Ensure your cyber safety this tax season
With tax season on the horizon, Vancouver Coastal Health and other employers will soon be issuing T4 statements to employees. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is starting to promote this year’s deadlines and folks are gearing up to file their tax returns.
Unfortunately tax time is also a prime opportunity for cyber criminals to try and steal your personal information.
Some tips to protect yourself:
- Know who’s helping you with your tax preparation. Work with someone familiar and trustworthy. If you’re thinking of hiring a new accountant or commercial tax preparer, conduct proper research first. Be sure to read all reviews carefully and check for business complaints.
- Use strong passwords. If you’re preparing your taxes using an online program, make sure to use a strong password to protect the file. If you’re working with an accountant ask them what security measures they have in place to protect your personal information.
- Use Secure Wi-Fi to E-File. If you’re filing through an online program be sure to send your personal information through a secure, password protected wireless Internet connection.
- Securely store your tax files. Back up your data and store your electronic tax files securely.
- Watch out for CRA email scams. If you receive a “CRA email” it’s a huge red flag for a phishing scam since proper notification for personal information will only be sent from the CRA through regular mail.
- Watch out for fraudulent CRA calls. The CRA is asking people to be aware of an increase in telephone scams where the caller claims to be from the CRA but is not. These calls are fraudulent and could result in identity and financial theft.
How to detect fraud
- The CRA will not leave any personal information on an answering machine.
- The CRA will not divulge taxpayer information to another person unless formal authorization is provided by the taxpayer.
- The CRA will not send emails containing any links.
- The CRA will not request personal information of any kind from a taxpayer by email or text message.
- The CRA will not send emails in English or French only: all communications are in both official languages.