CRA scam
In a recent Guelph Police investigation, a Guelph resident lost $4,300 when they responded to a voicemail from someone claiming to be from CRA. That person advised that if they did not call back they would be in trouble. On calling back, the victim was told to purchase iTunes gift cards and then scratch and read off the pin of every card while the person was still on the phone.
The Guelph Police Service - Fraud Unit would like to warn residents of this CRA – Canada Revenue Agency telephone scam. The caller will advise that there is an outstanding debt owed for taxes and that if the debt is not paid any various number of threats are made: the police will be coming to arrest them and they will be held in custody, they will lose custody of their children, they will be deported.
The victims are then advised to either E-transfer money or deposit it directly into a bank account, wire money through Money Gram or purchase Pay Pal, pre-paid Visa’s, or most recently iTunes cards. The victims are often kept on the phone during these purchases to provide the codes or numbers on each card immediately.
People should not respond to these communications. The Canada Revenue Agency will not ask for overdue tax payments to be made by Apple iTunes gift cards or any of the above methods. Furthermore, the CRA will not ask for any access PIN or codes for iTunes cards purchased.
To verify the authenticity of a call from the CRA, people should contact them directly at 1-800-959‑8281 or visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca for more information on CRA related frauds.
If you have responded to a fraudulent communication and have become a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by email at [email protected] or call 1-888-495-8501.
Road safety enforcement on July 14
In the area of Edinburgh Road North from 10:50 a.m. - 12:25 a.m. - 5 tickets issued.
Police incidents from the past 24 hours
The Guelph Police were involved in 220 incidents in this time frame. Incidents involve everything from traffic stops and accidental 911 calls to domestics and break and enters.
