As personal tax season approaches, cyber scams become more frequent and more sophisticated. Fraudsters often take advantage of this busy time to target Canadians with scams and unsafe document requests. Follow these best practices to stay secure during tax season and all year round.
Secure File Sharing
At Bateman MacKay LLP, protecting your confidential information is one of our highest priorities. For security reasons, we require that all documents be submitted through our ShareFile portal, not by email attachment, third-party file sharing services (such as Dropbox or Google Drive), or physical storage devices (such as USB keys or external hard drives).
ShareFile helps ensure your information remains secure by:
- Encrypting files during upload, download, and storage
- Scanning documents for malicious content before entering our system
- Restricting access to authorized Bateman MacKay team members only
This secure transfer method meets or exceeds PIPEDA, GDPR, CPA Ontario, and CRA e-filer security standards.
Be Alert for CRA Scams
Fraud attempts increase significantly during tax season, with scammers impersonating the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
The CRA will never:
- Send refunds or payments by text message or e-transfer
- Demand payment using cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid credit cards
- Threaten arrest, deportation, or immediate legal action
- Ask for personal or financial information by email or voicemail
Watch for Fake CRA Websites
Scammers often create convincing look-alike sites with unusual web addresses. Official CRA pages will always begin with canada.ca or end in cra-arc.gc.ca.
New Trend: AI-Generated Scams
Fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence to produce realistic emails, documents, and fake CRA-style forms. These scams can appear far more credible than in past years.
If you are unsure about a CRA-related message, do not click links or respond directly. Instead, note any identifying details and contact the CRA using the official phone line: 1-800-959-8281.
Simple Best Practices to Stay Safe
To reduce risk throughout the year, we recommend:
- Never sharing personal or tax information through unsolicited emails or texts
- Using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication
- Confirming any unusual request using a different contact method before acting
If something seems suspicious, pause and contact our team before taking any action. Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our blog for regular updates on tax legislation, compliance changes, and strategic accounting guidance that impact privately owned businesses across Canada.
