Scammers will clone government websites to get your tax money, Mississauga and Brampton residents warned

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Published March 24, 2023 at 9:17 am

Mississauga and Brampton residents are being alerted by Peel cops to an income tax scam that seeks to steal their money and sensitive personal information.

Peel Regional Police re-tweeted a social media post from the Competition Bureau of Canada that warns people to be extra careful when submitting their annual income taxes online.

“When filing your income taxes, be extra cautious; fraudsters will clone legitimate government websites to steal your money or sensitive information,” the post from the federal agency reads.

Included in the Competition Bureau of Canada’s post is a link to information on how people can spot fake government websites (see below).

The income tax scam is the latest to be shared with the public by Peel cops, who’ve been alerting Mississauga and Brampton residents to various scams as Canadian Fraud Prevention Month continues.

Among the scams police have alerted people to in recent weeks are those focused on cryptocurrency, Ponzi schemes and pyramid scams that try to lure people into illegal investment webs that promise quick return on financial investment and a fraud that seeks to trick people out of their money by telling would-be victims over the phone that a loved one is in jail or that they’re being targeted for not paying taxes.

Such “emergency scams” are among a number of popular frauds targeting people these days in Mississauga, Brampton and across Ontario, and Canada, police warn.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians lost more than $530 million to fraud in 2022 and much of that could have been prevented if victims were more informed of the tactics used by scammers.

For more information on the various frauds/scams, visit Peel Regional Police or Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre websites.

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