Public Safety Alert, Canada Revenue Agency Fraud Scam

Public Safety Alert, Canada Revenue Agency Fraud Scam

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 8:26 AM
41 Division:  416-808-5400

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of a ongoing fraud investigation in 54 Division. 

It is reported that:

- on Monday, June 6, 2016, a 65-year-old man was contacted by someone who identified themselves as an employee of the Canada Revenue Agency and claimed that the man owed money to the Canada Revenue Agency

- the caller stated they had an arrest warrant for the man and that he had to pay the Canada Revenue Agency immediately or he would be arrested by the Toronto Police Service

- the man was told to purchase Apple iTunes gift cards as the Canada Revenue Agency had a financial agreement with Apple and the Canada Revenue Agency would be paid the money owed by Apple once the cards were activated

- the man obtained $3,300 in Apple iTunes gift cards, photocopied the gift cards (containing the activation codes) and emailed the photocopy of the gift cards to the unknown caller

- the man does not owe the Canada Revenue Agency any outstanding balance and the Canada Revenue Agency never contacted the man  

Members of the public are advised to exercise caution when speaking to someone claiming to be from the Canada Eevenue Agency and should call back the public number of the Canada Revenue Agency to confirm the status of their account and should not transfer any funds by means of Apple iTunes gift cards. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS(8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, Corporate Communications, for Detective Sergeant Jim Gotell, 54 Division