Marathon OPP : Tax Fraud Prevention
FROM THE EDITOR: If only it were this obvious! Those committing telephone fraud can seem very official and convincing, if in doubt, contact the authorities and DO NOT provide personal information of ANY kind!
MARATHON, ON –On February 11, 2016 Members of the Marathon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a Tax Fraud report that has become a common complaint in the Town of Marathon.
The fraud is that a telephone call or email is received from a fraudster identifying that they are calling from the Canada Revenue Agency, and that as the result of an audit, the person receiving the call owes “back taxes”. The fraudster will continue to say that the money must be paid immediately to avoid paying a fine or being arrested. They will then request that the payment be made through a business that provides a money service, such as Canada Post, Western Union, or Money Gram.
To prevent being a victim of fraud:
- Stop! Do not take action until you have verified the information provided to you, ask for the caller’s name, employee number, office number and office location.
- Contact the Canada Revenue Agency to check the status of your tax account and confirm if the person you spoke to is an employee.
- Do not provide any personal or banking information over the phone.
- Do not be embarrassed, talk to someone before sending money in the mail.
Police want the public to be aware of this ongoing fraud to prevent being a victim.
For more information or to report a Fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501or the OPP at 1-888-310-3322.
