Good Day Block Watch Captains, Co-Captains & Participants,
West Vancouver Police have responded to 266 calls for service since our last Block Watch Crime Prevention Update.
Click Here For Updated West Vancouver Crime Alerts
Spring Break
School Spring Breaks are upon us. Before you depart for that long-awaited trip, take time to review & check home security. Is your alarm properly set? Have you arranged for family or a friend to check your home while you’re away? And to clear any mail or delivery items? If you rely on a web-based alarm or camera system that sends alerts to your smart phone or tablet, bear in mind, you will not receive alerts if you are aboard a plane, ship or anywhere without internet connectivity. Consider having a family member or friend monitor your alerts while you are away.
March is Fraud Prevention Month
Through Block Watch and our Community Services Team West Vancouver Police join partners in policing across the country in a focused campaign to arm you with information & awareness to protect against scams.
Canada Revenue Agency Scams
This week we are focusing on Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scams, that can surge amid tax season and the approaching annual income tax filing deadline. CRA scams can vary greatly but have some common red flags to watch for. These scam pitches arrive in a variety of ways, by phone, email, text message, or sometimes even by regular mail. The scam script can vary, but typically will advise the intended victim that they owe money and must take immediate action to resolve the matter, or face prompt arrest or prison. Simply put, Canada Revenue Agency will not contact you in this manner. We encourage you to familiarize yourself, and any elderly or otherwise vulnerable persons you help support & care for, with some important basics to help recognize a CRA Scam is in progress.
Please understand the CRA will not:
- demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin), Prepaid credit cards or retail gift cards,
- ask for a fee to speak with a contact centre agent,
- use aggressive language or threaten you with arrest, sending the police or prison,
- leave voicemails that are threatening or give personal or financial information,
- give or ask for personal or financial information by email and ask you to click on a link,
- email you a link that demands you fill in an online form with personal or financial details,
- send you an email with a link to your refund,
- set up a meeting with you in a public place to take a payment,
If you are in doubt, ask yourself:
- Why is the person contacting me pressuring me to act immediately? Am I certain they are a CRA employee?
- Have I received any prior mailed notice from the CRA about the subject of the communication?
- Is the caller asking for information I would not give in my tax return or that is not related to any money I owe the CRA?
We encourage you to visit Canada Revenue Agency’s main website for more detail on recognizing CRA Scams.
Click Here For The Latest Scam Alerts from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Mail Theft & Fraud
Our Crime Alerts this week include three reports of Mail Theft in the Groveland, Millstream & Southborough areas of the British Properties. Loss of mail which can include banking or other personal information exposes you to the risk of identity theft & many other Fraud offences. We encourage you to clear your mailbox on any day that delivery could be expected.
Please feel free to share any Fraud Prevention information we provide through Block Watch with your family & personal network.
Our Community Services Team conducts regular Fraud Prevention Presentations in the community. If you would like to book a presentation for your community or social group, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected]. We thank Home Instead of the North Shore & Vancouver for the opportunity to share information during in-service training in West Vancouver for some 200 of their staff who provide in home care for Seniors. Please review all Fraud types with members of your family, particularly with any elderly family members or others who may be especially vulnerable.
Click Here For Fraud Prevention Information From The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Anytime you see activity of concern, please don’t hesitate to call West Vancouver Police. Call 604-925-7300 for non-emergency matters.
Call 9-1-1 in an emergency, including events that involve an immediate threat to a person or property or to report a substantive crime in progress.
For updated crime alerts anytime click westvanpolice.ca/crime-alerts.
Jeff Palmer
Block Watch & Operational Support Coordinator
West Vancouver Police
t: 604-925-7300
