CRA Reveals that New Scam Email Targeting Taxpayers

Ckom.com reported on 24th July, 2014 stating that scammers impersonating Canada Revenue Agency, Canada's official tax collecting body, sending an email across the country.

The email scam asks for personal data like your credit card or bank account information, social insurance number and passport number promising amount of $400 to $700 in return.

Till now in 2014, 12 Saskatchewan residents have reported the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) which is more than nine in 2013 and more than three in 2012. More than 400 Canadians have reported in 2014 which is more than 186 in 2012.

Ckom.com published a report on 24th July, 2014 quoting Daniel Williams, Spokesperson of Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as saying "We know that what we see is just a small fraction of what is happening there. We have more than 19,000 consumers forwarding copies of these emails to us this year."

Williams acknowledges that although 19,000 might look like a large number but more than 100,000 people might have received the scam at one time.

Officials comment that every year around this time scammers impersonating Canada Revenue Agency start sending emails to Canadians. Recognition of phishing schemes is the key to protect yourself as the bottom line is that any email purporting to be from Canada Revenue Agency is a scam without any exceptions as confirmed by CRA.

CRA has always been extra careful about security due to which it is difficult to get information about your own private tax from them on phone. Another security guidelines include iron-clad rule which is CRA never sends individual emails as email is not safe enough. Officials of CRA add further that CRA communicates only through letter or phone.

Moreover, it is not only Canadian taxpayers who are being attacked by cybercriminals because HMRC said in mid-June 2014 that there were 11,219 phishing email reports recorded in May 2014 which was 131% increase in phishing emails as compared to the same month last year. Similarly, the Australian Taxing Office or ATO also reported a significant uptick in phishing attacks in June (2014) end week.

» SPAMfighter News - 8/2/2014