CRA phone scammers now appear to call from Halifax RCMP number

Nova Scotia RCMP are warning about a new twist on an old phone scam where suspects call people while pretending to work for the Canadian Revenue Agency and attempt to get personal information and defraud them. 

In the latest update, police say scammers are calling from phone number which appear on their call display as 1-800-803-7267 — a toll-free Halifax District RCMP number. 

Police say the scammer told the person to buy iTunes gift cards at the post office then call them back and someone from CRA would be at their house within 45 minutes with paperwork.

"The RCMP has recently seen a dramatic increase in fraudulent activity where callers are portraying themselves as members of CRA and demanding money, or items of monetary value," said the RCMP in a news release.

"Often there are threats involved where the caller states that if the complainant does not do as requested immediately there will be repercussions from the CRA."

RCMP says it's been working to address the misuse of its phone number. 

CRA wants to remind people it does not conduct its business — or threaten people by phone — in this way. 

Police advise that people targeted hang up immediately and report the matter directly to police and the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.