Kamloops RCMP is warning people about a potential phone scam by fraudsters claiming to be for the Canada Revenue Agency.
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October 30, 2015 - 10:30 AM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The Canada Revenue Agency scam is continuing to make rounds in the region, with RCMP detachments fielding several calls a day from concerned residents.
This type of scam is not new, and police have issued warnings previously about callers alleging to be from the agency.
Cpl. Cheryl Bush says Kamloops RCMP is fielding several calls daily where residents are contacted either by phone or email. The fraudsters say there was an error on a tax return, taxes are still owed and if they are not paid an arrest warrant will be issued. In some cases the caller says there is a refund owed and the agency requires a bank account number to process the reimbursement.
If residents receive this type of call, police are urging callers to hang up and not to provide any personal information. If you have any concerns about your Canada Revenue account, please call the agency yourself.
In most of the cases, citizens have contacted the police about the call but did not provide any details. Unfortunately there is little that can be done to trace the numbers of the original calls as they are using internet phone services from locations overseas.
However, there are current investigations pending where individuals have been scammed through other means of contact, such as the internet. In these cases, a rapport has been established through internet contact and eventually individuals are persuaded to send funds for a variety of reasons.
Police caution people against sending personal information or funds for any type of investment or exchange to someone who they have never met or to a contact who they cannot confirm is legitimate.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015