Fraud investigators are warning the public about scammers who pose as government officials and ask for tax payments with retail gift cards.
It starts with a telephone call, text, email or letter from someone claiming to be from the RCMP or Canada Revenue Agency. They may ask for personal information or demand that back taxes be paid with gift cards or prepaid credit cards, police said.
“These calls can be confusing and overwhelming, so fraudsters tend to succeed with those who aren’t thinking clearly, don’t understand the tax process, or are the most vulnerable,” Edmonton police Det. Linda Herczeg said in a news release Wednesday.
Phone numbers or email addresses may look legitimate, but the contact information ends up redirecting people back to the scammers, police noted.
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