South Simcoe police issue warning after Bradford man falls victim to CRA scam

South Simcoe police are warning residents after a man from Bradford fell victim to an ongoing Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam.

According to police, on Friday, a 67-year-old man from Bradford received a call from someone claiming to be from the CRA. The caller told the man he had committed a crime and needed to deposit thousands of dollars into a Western Union bank machine in Toronto.

Police say the man believed the caller, gathered the money and left his home to pay.

Officers say the man’s concerned family members called police after he was gone for two hours and wasn’t answering his cellphone.

Police were able to contact the man who had driven to Toronto to deposit the money into a machine in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, as directed by the scammers.

According to police, the investigation is ongoing.

1:37 These are some of the common CRA scams to look out for

Police are reminding residents that the CRA does not make telephone calls demanding that people pay them via MoneyGram, Western Union, or electronic money transfer and the CRA will never threaten arrest or send police.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the CRA, police say you should not take immediate action and should call your banking institution, or get a second opinion from family or friends.