The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued a new scam alert.
According to the agency, scammers posing as CBSA officials are using emails, websites, text messages and phone calls to request money and personal information like social insurance numbers.
The CBSA warned in a press release: “The methods and messages used by fraudsters are varied and ever-changing, but are always designed to demand money and attract the public to provide personal information. core”. “Phone calls may show staff names and numbers that appear to be CBSA. The email may contain the CBSA logo, email address, or employee names and titles to mislead the public.”
The CBSA says it will never ask for social security or credit card numbers over the phone or email.
“If an individual receives a phone call or email requesting this information or requesting payment from the CBSA, it is a scam,” the CBSA said.
CBSA is urging Canadians to ignore these types of calls and texts and report them to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center.
The CBSA also warns travelers to Canada about fraudulent websites and apps posing as ArriveCan and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). ArriveCan is a free government platform for travelers to provide information before and after arriving in Canada. With the exception of US passport holders, most visitors require a $7 eTA to enter Canada.
More information about these types of scams is available on the CBSA website and the Canada Revenue Agency’s “Scams and Frauds” page.
