Tax season: CRA mimicked in phishing scam, RNC warns

Individuals posing as employees with the Canada Revenue Agency are operating a telephone and internet scam targeting people across Canada.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary issued a warning Wednesday to anyone who may be contacted by the fraudsters.

CRA scams are not new and police agencies have warned about them for years, especially around tax season.

The RNC'seconomic crime unit said the scammers ask for personal information on credit cards, bank accounts and password numbers.

"Some of these scams ask for this personal informationdirectly, and others refer the taxpayer to a website resembling the CRA's, where the person isasked to verify their identity by entering personal information," the RNC news release stated.

In addition to the phishing scam, links contained in the fraudulentemail may also"contain embedded malicious software thatcan harm your computer and put your personal information at risk."