Kingston Police warn public to watch out for scams during tax season

The process of doing income tax usually involves reporting or sharing significant personal information. Kingston Police have released a statement reminding the public to remain vigilant and watch out for phishing attacks and disinformation campaigns during the upcoming tax season.

“In most countries, including Canada, it’s cybercriminals’ favourite time of the year: tax season,” Kingston Police said. “Taxes are a sensitive topic that can easily be used to catch your attention or manipulate your emotions.”

Police noted that tax season is also a “vulnerable time for your sensitive information.” Many tax documents, from employers, banks, and other organizations, include personally identifiable information.

“If cybercriminals get their hands on this information, they can use it to steal your identity, your money, and more,” police warned.

In the statement, Kingston Police provided the tips below to stay safe during tax season:

• Always think before you click. Cyber attacks are designed to catch you off guard and trick you into clicking impulsively.
• Use extra caution when handling tax documents. For digital documents, use password protection. For physical documents, keep paperwork in a secure location and shred anything that is no longer needed.
• Be suspicious of emails, text messages, and social media posts that contain shocking information about taxes in your region. These messages could be disinformation, which is false information designed to mislead you.