CRA scam still active

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Scammers are still trying to pass themselves off as Canada Revenue Agency officials to try and con people out of their money.

“We continue to receive a number of calls reporting unusual occurances involving phone contacts, and e-mails from people or persons representing themselves as representatives from the CRA,” said Salmon Arm RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West.

West said people should never give out any banking information over the Internet or the phone. Do not give bank account numbers, credit card numbers or passwords.

Do not give out any personal information such as driver's licence numbers or other identification numbers.

West said the CRA never requests prepaid credit cards; asks for information about your passport, health card, or driver's licence; 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.

“When in doubt, ask yourself the following: Is there a reason that the CRA may be calling? Do I have a tax balance outstanding? Is the requester asking for information I would not include with my tax return? Is the requester asking for information I know the CRA already has on file for me? How did the requester get my email address or telephone number? Am I confident I know who is asking for the information?” he said.