Fraud can come in many forms, like:
- Phone calls or text messages
- Email or messages on social media
- Letters in the mail
- In person
Examples of recent scams:
Rent arrears:
- “Hi, this is Toronto Seniors Housing calling about an overdue rent payment. You must pay with a credit card over the phone or face eviction. “
- Suspicious behaviours: TSHC does not take payment over the phone, the caller does not have a name or position you recognize, the scammer is threatening tenancy management action if you do not pay immediately.
- Solution: Do not provide payment information over the phone. Call Tenant Support Centre to confirm the situation.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam:
- “Our records indicate you owe outstanding taxes. If you don’t pay right away we will have to call the police and have you arrested.”
- Suspicious behaviours: The scammer may request payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency and threaten you with immediate legal action such as arrest.
- Solution: Hang up right away and call back through the phone number found on the official government website or login to your official Service Canada account at
canada.ca/taxes to confirm the situation.
If you have been the victim of a crime, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and tell your friends and family to prevent someone else from becoming a victim.
Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to learn about current and past scams, learn how to protect yourself and to report a fraud: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/
Contact the Tenant Support Centre at 416-945-0800 if you need this information in an alternate language or format.