Calgary Herald

RCMP warn of scamsters working holiday season

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A number of telephone scams are popping up over the holiday season, warn Mounties trying to prevent citizens from getting grinched.

One of the most prevalent involves residents in northern Alberta receiving phone calls from people claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The caller informs the victim that they are behind on tax payments and must send the owed amount as soon as possible to prevent arrest. In some cases, the caller is asking for payment in iTunes and other gift cards or pre-paid credit cards.

RCMP are advising residents that the CRA does not accept payment from gift cards or pre-paid credit cards nor do the police make arrests for overdue taxes.

Another operation involves calls placed from fraudsters who have taken receipts from the trash with victims names and the last four digits of their credit card number on them.

The caller asks the victim to confirm their name, address, the first 12 digits of their credit card number and the security numbers on the back of the card, claiming they are from the bank.

RCMP advise the public to always take their receipts and avoid throwing them in a public trash bin or allowing a store clerk to throw it away for you and to shred receipts that you no longer need.

Playing on the generous nature of residents during the holiday season, another scam is circulatin­g where suspects are posing as fake and legitimate charity representa­tives asking for donations.

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