Toronto Police and Canada Revenue Agency warn public about email fraud

Toronto Police Service News Release

Public Safety Alert, Toronto Police and Canada Revenue Agency warn public about email fraud

Friday, March 14, 2014 - 10:05 AM
Financial Crimes:  416-808-7300

The Toronto Police Service, Financial Crimes Unit, would like to warn the public about an ongoing scam involving fraudulent email communications, purportedly coming from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The Toronto Police Service has received dozens of reports from residents that they have received emails claiming to be from the CRA. These messages indicate that the recipient either owes money or is entitled to a refund with respect to their taxes. The email states both are to be paid immediately. These fraudulent messages instruct the recipients to provide personal information before they can pay their balance or receive a refund from the CRA.

The CRA will never request information from taxpayers by email. The public is urged to visit the CRA website  (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fraudprevention/) to determine exactly how they communicate with their clients.

If anyone does receive one of these email messages they are encouraged to take the following steps to protect themselves from fraud:

- do not comply with the email and contact the appropriate CRA office to verify the information
- do not click on any links within the email as this might compromise their computer
- contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and report the incident.

The CAFC can be reached by visiting their website at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/english/home.html.


Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online atwww.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable David Hopkinson, Corporate Communications, for Staff Inspector Mary Lee Metcalfe, Financial Crimes Unit