The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has sent out a warning to people who receive requests from people asking for personal information.
The CBSA said there are ongoing scams involving email, web messaging, text messages, and telephone calls in which people posing as representatives ask for payment or personal data, such as a Social Insurance Number. The methods are varied and constantly changing, but the aim is to always demand money or personal information from unsuspecting people.
“In some cases, these scams use false CBSA information. Telephone calls may display numbers and employee names that falsely appear to be from the CBSA,” read a media release from the CBSA. “Emails may contain CBSA logos, email addresses or employee names and titles to mislead the public.”
The CBSA will never contact people and ask for a credit card or social insurance number. If you receive such a call or email, don’t respond. Hang up the phone, delete the email or text without answering, then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
The public is also being asked to watch for web pages or mobile apps that ask you for money, posing as the official ArriveCAN app or the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
“ArriveCAN is free and secure and is the official Government of Canada platform to provide your mandatory information before and after entering Canada,” read the release. “An application for an Electronic Travel Authorization can only be made and paid for through the official Government of Canada website. An eTA is electronically linked to a traveller’s passport and costs $7.”
