RCMP in Saskatchewan are warning people to watch out for phone scammers posing as Canada Revenue Agency employees.
Mounties in detachments across the province received 88 complaints about the scam last month alone, Insp. Donovan Fisher told media in Saskatoon Thursday. Tens of thousands of dollars has likely been defrauded, and in two specific cases, victims lost a total of $10,000.
The scam often begins with an automated message from someone claiming to be a CRA employee or officer with the CRA’s tax crime division.
“This message is from Canada Revenue Agency…. At hand is extremely time sensitive, so the very second you receive this message, I need you to leave your work aside and dial a number to the CRA tax crime division,” one automated message plays.
“This is Officer Brandon Walters and I am working with CRA tax crime division. Now if you fail to return the call or in case if I don’t hear from your attorney either, then the only thing which I can do is wish you good luck as the situation unfolds on you. Goodbye.”
Victims are given a number to call, which directs them to a person who tells them they owe taxes.
The scam is difficult to track, Fisher said. The fraudsters are likely calling from out of the country, but new technology can make the call appear as if it’s from a local number.
Eighty-four of the 88 complaints RCMP received involved callers asking for less than $5,000. Four callers asked for more than $5,000.
Fraud experts say the CRA sends letters in the mail to those who owe money.
