The Thunder Bay Police Service continues to take reports of citizens being contacted by phone about back taxes that need to be paid immediately to the Canada Revenue Agency or risk be arrested by the police.
A report received today state that victim has indeed sent money via money transfer to the callers.
Police are once again confirming that this is a fraud. Citizens must be cautious when speaking to unknown people who call your home. Also citizens need to be aware that transferring money to unknown persons can be problematic and the likelihood of recovering the funds is very low.
Here are some warning signs:
- Urgency-- The scammer always makes the request sound very urgent, which may cause the victim to not verify the story.
- Fear-- The scammer plays on the victim's emotions by generating a sense of fear.
- Secrecy-- The scammer informs the victim not to tell anyone about the situation.
- Request for Money Transfer-- Money is usually requested to be sent by a money transfer company such as Money Gram, Western Union or even through your own bank institution.
- Request to purchase gift cards -- Fraudster may suggest you purchase gift cards such as ITunes and Visa or MasterCard and then send them the number on the back as payment.
TBPS is urging citizens to visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's website to become educated and informed on the current frauds that exist.
It is also recommended to share this information with family and friends. Awareness is the first step in recognizing the signs of a fraud and reducing the chance of becoming a victim.
http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/fraud-escroquerie/types/tax-contribuable/index-eng.htmhttp://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/fraud-escroquerie/types/tax-contribuable/index-eng.htm
