A scam designed to target your personal or financial information in order to take your money has surfaced in Williams Lake.
Coral Quon a bookkeeper and tax preparer with Qtax says they have had numerous clients coming into their office, sometimes 1 to 3 day, saying they had received a threatening phone call from the Canada Revenue Agency.
The scam which begins with a phone call, email, or letter falsely claims to the Canada Revenue Agency and asks you to verify your personal information in order to receive a refund or benefit payment.
The scammer(s) are reported to threaten that if you don’t “pay-up” they will contact the authorities.
The Canada Tax Revenue Agency says that taxpayers should be vigilant when they receive, either by telephone, mail, text message or email, a fraudulent communication that claims to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requesting personal information such as a social insurance number, credit card number, bank account number, or passport number.
It adds should you a receive a call saying you owe money the CRA, you can contact the CRA to be sure.