The Canadian Revenue Agency is warning about a phishing scam targeting taxpayers online after a CTV viewer alerted Steele on Your Side to a suspicious email claiming to be from the government body.
The email, with the subject line "Revenue Canada Software," urges the recipient to install software to their computer that claims to "streamline income tax reporting for the tax payers of Canada."
It says the software is necessary in order to file 2011 taxes.
"Click on the attached video to see how to install this simple program. It provides an overview of the custom Revenue Canada USB drive and tax Software," it reads.
A CRA spokesperson said the email is not something sent or authorized by its agency, and that it "never communicates with taxpayers to ask for personal information" by email.
Philippe Brideau said the CRA will communicate to customers by mail or phone, but for security purposes always asks for proper identification to access the file.
Brideau said the email is very similar to phishing scams the agency has been seeing country-wide. The phishing scams could result in identity thefts, he said.
"It's a scam. We urge people not to open them, to delete them, and to alert local authorities," he said.
The CRA has a section on its website about fraudulent communications. Click here for more information.
If you have responded to a fraudulent communication and have become a victim of fraud, you can contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by email at info@antifraudcentre.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.
Watch CTV News for a full report from Lynda Steele about the dangers of this phishing scam...
