Scammer claimed Erin resident owed $25K to Canada Revenue Agency

Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, June 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ontario Provincial Police say a scammer tried to trick an Erin resident into handing over $25,000.

The stranger, claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency, showed up unannounced at home on Friday.

OPP said they showed the resident a letter stating one of their family members had registered a company in their name and they now owed the government $25,000 in taxes.

The resident realized it was a scam and asked the person to leave their property.

They then reported it to the Wellington County detachment of Ontario Provincial Police.

Anyone who has been the victim of fraud, or received a phone call, text or email from scammers, is urged to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.