RED LAKE, ON – Over the past several weeks, officers from the Red Lake detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have received numerous calls from local residents regarding calls they have received at home and on their mobile devices from scammers holding themselves out to be local law enforcement or Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). They have stated they will transfer the target to an officer from Red Lake OPP, whom they identify as Officer Marshall. Do not release any information – they are attempting to extort money or gain personal information for identity theft.
CRA may contact you by phone at times, but they will never ask for information on your passport, health card or driver’s license. They will never text you – any text message from the CRA is a scam. They will never demand immediate payment nor will they request payment via Interac e-transfers, online currency such as bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from iTunes, Home Depot or any other retailers. CRA will never use aggressive language or threaten to send the police to arrest you. Hang up immediately if there’s anything suspicious or unprofessional about the call. You can learn more by visiting the CRA website at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/security/protect-yourself-against-fraud.html
If you have received this kind of phone call, you should contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or via e-mail at info@antifraudcentre.ca or visit their website at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
