Tax Season is Here: Avoid These Common Scams Targeting Canadians
Tax return preparation might be a little more complicated this year than usual for many Canadians with millions receiving Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments and about 40% of the Canadian labor force turned to self-employment options to help them financially weather the pandemic storm.
Where there’s money and uncertainty, you’re likely to find scammers. After all, scammers tend to capitalize on uncertainty and use it as the entry point for their attacks. Whether it’s through a phishing email with a phony notice of reassessment, a text message threatening arrest, or a fake phone call from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), hackers often employ elements of fear in their attacks. McAfee’s 2021 Consumer Security Mindset study revealed that roughly 2 out of 3 Canadians (65%) plan to do their taxes online in 2021, with 12% of them doing so for the first time. With the increase in activities online, consumers are potentially exposed to more digital risks and threats, and knowing how these hackers tend to work doesn’t mean you have to live in fear. To help you identify and avoid potential threats, let’s take a look at some of the most common scams that hackers use during tax season.
Phone scams
Phone scams take one of two primary forms:
Robocalls – Pre-recorded message by a person or a voice-to-speech app that allows scammers to reach thousands of potential victims. The message may direct the recipient to call a number or visit a site that will attempt to steal their personal or financial information. In some cases, it may direct them to a phony call center that will try to collect payment for a bogus debt.
Imposter calls – This occu ..
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