As the 2021 tax season gets underway, Better Business Bureaus (BBB) across Canada are reminding the public to be wary of tax scams that may target their identities and savings.
Online tax filing opens up on Feb. 21, and while online filing is generally considered faster and more convenient, according to the BBB, it also “widens the net of opportunity for scam artists.”
Canadians should watch out for phishing emails with “malicious links,” and fake Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) websites or calls asking for personal information, the BBB wrote in a news release. Taxpayers should also beware of any non-traditional methods of communication such as texts or social media messages.
“In these scams, imposters go to great lengths to appear real, for example, they may provide a fake badge number and name or have their caller ID appear to be from Ottawa or a CRA unit, cloak emails to look like official websites and much more,” the BBB said in the release.
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On its website, the CRA notes that it’s possible its staff could call Canadians to discuss their tax and benefit situations.
Possible reasons for calls include money owed to the CRA, missing tax returns, and questions about new business registration, submitted tax and benefit documents, or corporate returns.
