Latest CRA scam demands payments through gift cards

The ongoing scam by fake tax collectors has taken a strange twist. Instead of asking for cash payments, scammers are asking for payment through gift cards.

For the past several months law enforcement agencies have sent out public warnings about an ongoing scam involving Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) impersonators.

• Reports of nationwide CRA scam hitting Sask. during tax season
• SaskatchewanRCMPreport around 200 calls about tax scam

Complainants report taking calls from someone claiming to be with the CRA and they use threatening and aggressive language to frighten people into paying an imaginary debt.

The Saskatoon Police Service said they have recently started getting reports of scammers demanding payment in iTunes gift cards.

• Calgarian defrauded $20K in CRA scam involving iTunes gift cards

Police were reminding the public the CRA does not interact with taxpayers in such a way and does not request payment through gift cards.