Canadian tax authorities are warning Canadians about phishing schemes that involve fraudsters posing as tax collectors.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) issued a warning today about phone calls, mail, or email that claim to be from the CRA but are not. “These are phishing scams that could result in identity thefts,” it says.
It notes that phishing scams seek personal information, such as social insurance, credit card, bank account, and passport numbers. “Some of these scams ask for this personal information directly, and others refer the taxpayer to a Web site resembling the CRA’s where the person is asked to verify their identity by entering personal information,” it notes.
Additionally, it warns that email-based scams may also contain embedded malware, or malicious software, that can harm computers and put personal information at risk. “The CRA does not email Canadians to request personal information,” it says.
Indeed, the CRA stresses that it never requests personal information of any kind by email, or an answering machine; that it will never request information about a passport, health card, or driver’s license; and, that it will not divulge taxpayer information without formal authorization from the taxpayer.