A number of area residents are falling victim to a phone scam where the fraudster poses as an agent with the Canada Revenue Agency. People are told they owe tax money and must pay up. The caller threatens these people that if they don't pay now, their assets will be frozen and they will be arrested.
Versions of this type of phone fraud have circulated before, but the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have noted on its website an increase in these types of calls and the use of unpleasant tactics such as "aggressive and forceful language to scare [taxpayers] into paying fictitious debt."
If you get such a call, hang up. These types of communication are not from the CRA. When the CRA calls you, it has established procedures in place to make sure your personal information is protected. If you want to confirm the authenticity of a CRA telephone number, call the CRA. The number for business-related calls is 1-800-959-5525. The number for calls about individual concerns is 1-800-959-8281. The CRA: never requests prepaid credit cards; never asks for information about your passport, health card, or driver's licence; never shares your taxpayer information with another person, unless you have provided the appropriate authorization; and never leaves personal information on your answering machine or asks you to leave a message containing your personal information on an answering machine. For more infp go to: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/nwsrm/lrts/2015/l150610-eng.html
If you have been a victim of this scam report it to your local police.