CRA phone scam making the rounds in Alberta

EDMONTON- It seems to rear its ugly head every year around tax time, but this year there is a twist to a common phone scam involving a false phone number display.

RCMP are reminding Albertans not to fall victim to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam. The scam typically involves a victim receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be an employee with the CRA.

The person tells the victim they owe taxes and will be arrested if they do not pay immediately.

READ MORE: Westaskiwin woman records tax scam call

Strathmore RCMP have received multiple complaints regarding this scam.

Here’s the twist: in one case, the victim was called by a suspect claiming he was an RCMP member. The suspect had somehow managed to falsely display the Strathmore RCMP’s non-emergency phone number. This led the victim to believe the call had originally come from the local RCMP detachment, police said Sunday.

READ MORE: Tax season brings tax scams

Here’s the best way to protect yourself: Strathmore RCMP are urging people who receive calls like this to verify the validity of the call in person.

And a reminder: the RCMP does not threaten arrest for money owed.