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Canadians at a Risk of Scam, Warns CRA

Canadians are being warned by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) of the bogus communications, claiming to be sent from the Agency itself. The scammers are asking the Canadian taxpayers to respond to the e-mail by providing their private data like passport numbers, Social Insurance Number, and banking details.

The communications, according to the report, claims that taxpayers are required to provide these details so as to acquire a benefit payment or a refund.

Moreover, some other e-mails even refer naïve taxpayers to the website that looks like the CRA website. The fake e-mail urges users to verify their personal details.

Meanwhile, CRA officials clarified that like other government entities, their agency also does not use e-mails to verify users' credentials. If the taxpayer does not give formal permission, the Agency would never reveal his details to any other person.

Experts explained the purpose behind these e-mails and said that what cyber felons want is taxpayers' personal data, and if some one provides, he will certainly fall prey to identity theft.

Experts said that as tax filing season is approaching, a majority of people have the tendency to get the work done quickly rather than safely. Consequently, cyber crooks are devising means to steal sensitive information of the taxpayers.

As stated by Scott Mitic, CEO of an identity theft protection firm Trusted ID, at this time of tax filing, scams are undoubtedly around which are exploiting the fact that users are much comfortable divulging their details online in the tax season, according to the news published by Globe and Mail on April 8, 2010. He further said that during this season, the rate of ID theft and other online frauds is quite high.

A compromised PC is yet another threat facing online taxpayers. The CEO warns that spyware is exceptionally dangerous at this point of time. Basically, spyware is software that collects information from user's system without his knowledge; it can monitor and record each and everything entered by the user online.

Notably, similar kind of tax-related scams were also reported earlier in some areas of Canada like Grey County (Ontario), Saskatchewan, etc. Thus, users are suggested to overlook such e-mails and immediately report them. Also, they should never click links that come along with such e-mails.

Related article: Canadian Retailer Faces Security Breach of Customer Credit Numbers

» SPAMfighter News - 4/19/2010

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