The Guelph Police fraud unit is warning area residents are receiving emails that falsely claim to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Police say the emails are phishing scams which could result in identity thefts.
The emails may also contain embedded malware, or malicious software, that can harm computers and put personal information at risk. Police note the CRA does not send emails to request personal information.
The email states, “that your income statement for this year is not complete and that your statement registration is not complete because you missed two lines”.
The email has a link that purports to be from the CRA website. The link takes the victim to a form requesting personal information (such as name, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, Social Insurance Number and personal banking) be submitted electronically.
Citizens are advised to check the CRA’s website for details on this and other scams in which the CRA is fraudulently mentioned in an attempt to get personal information, http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html. Anyone who receives a suspicious communication should immediately report it to the Canadian Anti- Fraud Centre info@antifraudcentre.ca or to the institution that it appears to be from.
For information on scams, to report deceptive telemarketing, and if personal or financial information has been unwittingly provided, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre web page at: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
