VANCOUVER – Tuesday is tax deadline day, but filers are being urged to use caution about sharing information online or clicking on unknown email links due to the rise in scams.
Evan Kelly, from the Better Business Bureau, says the most popular seems to be the email scam. These emails appear to have come from the CRA, complete with the logo, but try to solicit personal or private information online or over the phone.
“If you see an email like this in your inbox that says things like ‘your tax return is ready, just click on the link here and we’ll be able to put it in your bank account right away’, it’s fake,” says Kelly. “Canada Revenue Agency just does not do that.”
There have been many reports of people receiving texts from an unknown number asking the user to click on a link to deposit their income tax return. Do not click on the link. There is also another version of the text message, telling people they need to unlock their account.
Things to Look For:
- Emails from CRA never include links
- The CRA does not request information via text or email
- Communication from the CRA is always in both English and French
- Ask yourself if you were expecting extra money
- Is the request asking for information the CRA already has?
Kelly says the scammers are trying to get your tax return redirected to their sites.
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