Kelowna

Tax time is generally a stressful time, for a lot of people, as they work out all the calculations in order to determine how much tax they will have to pay or how much they will get back.

It is also the prime time for scam artists to perpetrate a fraud, on the unsuspecting, by pretending to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and sending potential victims a letter or email.

Constable Steve Holmes says the letter or email states that there is money to be claimed by the victim, from the CRA and that all that is required is for the victim to provide certain information so that their file can be "updated" and the monies released.

"It asks for the information to be faxed, or emailed, to them and provides a fax number. The letter looks official enough, and even sounds reasonable," says Holmes.

"It's intent, however, is not. The fraudsters are looking to gain identity and banking information from the victim so bank accounts can be accessed through false pretenses. It is an entirely criminal operation and one that can be easily sidestepped if one is willing to equip oneself with a little bit of important information."

Holmes says information on the scam can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca under "contact us", and scroll down to "Fraudulent Communications" and click on "beware of fraudulent communications."

"There, it tells you that the CRA will NOT request personal information, of any kind, by email. They will not divulge any taxpayer information, of any kind, to another unless formal authorization is provided by you."

The CRA will not leave any personal information on an answering machine. There is other important information that you, as a taxpayer, should know. Examples of the fraudulent letters, emails and online refund forms that these fraudsters use are also on that same page.

"We work too hard for the money we earn. Part of that work involves remaining ever vigilant to the schemes of criminals who would have us unwittingly hand it over to them."

It is worth taking the time to become informed. How much it is worth is up to you.

Report any frauds to phonebusters or call them at 1-800-495-8501.