Email - Housekeeping for Canadians - Spam Alert

FYI for Canadians:

If you have received the following message (with the subject: "IMPORTANT: You are entitled to a tax refund now"), delete the email.

Do not open the e-mail message as it is malicious software looking to obtain private information (known as phishing).

Be vigilant regarding any email request which asks for personal information such as banking info or credit cards.

The email looks like this:

[Revenue Canada Logo here]

From: Canada Revenue Agency [mailto:canadarevenueagency@minister.com]
Sent: March 16, 2009 10:33 PM
Subject: Tax Refund Pending !

Dear Citizen,

After the last anual calculations of your fiscal activity we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of $475.20 From 2009, we process refunds through your VISA / Mastercard Please fill the form below and e-mail it to [...DELETED for websafety....] or simply reply it from this curent e-mail !

First Name:
Last Name:
Address:
City:
Province:
Postal Code:
Home Phone Number:
Mother's Maiden Name:
Date of Birth:
Social Insurance Number:
Credit/Debit Card Number:
Expiration date [ MM/YYYY ] :
Card Verification Code:
Card Signature/ATM PIN:
Bank Name:

We are asking for your personal information to ensure we access the correct account, enabling us to provide the tax return. Internal Revenue Code Section 6105 allows us to request your Social Insurance Number, Credit/Debit Card number, Expiration Date, Cvv Code ( located on the back of your card ) and ATM PIN CODE for use in maintaining and accessing tax return information. If you do not enter complete and valid information we cannot provide tax return.

Worm Regards,

Canada Revenue Agency