FORT FRANCES – The OPP is reminding residents in the Rainy River District that tax scams are one of the most reported scams to the police.
However, there are several ways a person can identify these scams.
The phishing scammer will autodial a person's number claiming to be an employee of either the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada.
Using an AI-generated voice, they state that a person will have a compromised SIN number, an outstanding case against them, owe back taxes, have unpaid balances, or committed a financial crime.
The scammer threatens the resident with an arrest, fine, or even deportation.
The scammers may request payment via money service businesses, or a pre‐paid card from iTunes, Google Play, or Steam cards. They might even ask for Bitcoin.
“Don't fall for sleazy scams," said OPP Constable Mike Glueheisen, who is the community liaison, in the release.
"Instead, keep yourself safe by slowing down, avoiding suspicious links, and never giving out personal or sensitive information to people you don't know - especially if they're texting or calling from random numbers.”
