Did you know that \u201cfraud is the number one crime against older Canadians\u201d according to the Government of Canada website? If you\u2019ve ever received a suspicious phone call, email, text message, or letter claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), then you\u2019ve been a target of scammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how do you know if the person on the other end of the line isn\u2019t who they say they are? Scammers know how to play to emotions, while in other instances will play to your fears\u2013keep in mind: the CRA will never threaten you! Unfortunately, seniors and older adults are easy targets for fraudsters looking to impersonate the CRA for a quick payday that could land you in serious financial trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s first look at the Types of Fraud <\/strong>out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026and how to fight against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Credit\/debit. <\/strong>If they are asking for any kind of personal or financial information (including your credit card number, bank account number, or passport number) this is a scam! Also, never hand a card over in a store. Swipe or insert it yourself, and shield the pin to avoid people \u201cskimming\u201d your card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Online phishing. <\/strong>Be aware when you\u2019re providing the above personal details online, as well. Even if a website is legitimate, hackers have their ways. Ensure you have strong passwords and never share them. Also, look for the little \u201clock\u201d icon next to the \u201chttps\u201d and make sure there\u2019s an \u201cs\u201d on the end of \u201chttps\u201d. Most importantly, if you get an email, even from one of your contacts, but it feels suspicious never, ever click on the links or attachments!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Identity Theft. <\/strong>Shred and\/or throw out credit card statements, and any paperwork that has your name, address, and personal details on it. Putting these together, someone going through the trash can easily assume your identity and take out fake credit card accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Fake charities and Jackpots! <\/strong>Ever gotten a call that your Microsoft account isn\u2019t working (yet you don\u2019t run Microsoft) or you won a free trip\u2026but don\u2019t remember entering any draws? Sure, you may have forgotten, but we bet that this is 100% fake\u2014especially if they\u2019re asking for a credit card down payment or eTransfer! The same goes for fake charities soliciting money. Always, always<\/em> ask the person for the registered charitable tax number to confirm their status with the CRA before handing over cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEasy Ways to Spot a Scam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n