RCMP are reporting a significant number of reports about an old phone scam that is making the rounds.

They are advising people to be cautious after several Foothills residents received calls from someone claiming to be from Revenue Canada.

The calls are high pressure in nature insisting the money needs to be paid immediately and then they threaten to come and arrest you if it is not paid.

RCMP say the scam keeps resurfacing, usually increasing in tax season.

The scam artists are able to look legitimate by a recent practice of call spoofing, so the phone number on your phone is either local or made to look like it is coming from revenue Canada.

They sent out this list of safety tips:

- No legitimate government agency or business will demand payment in gift cards or prepaid credit cards. These methods are used by criminals in order to hide their activities from police;

- If you receive a call from someone claiming you owe money, get as much information from them as possible and tell them you will call them back. Find the government agencies’ phone number through a trusted source (phone book, or official website) and call the department back. Don't trust the phone number or email from the caller until you have verified that they are who they say they are;

- Do not share any personal information with the caller, such as confirming your name, social insurance number or address.

The best protection from scammers is to learn how to resist being pushed into a decision regardless of how persuasive or aggressive the scammer may be. Arm yourself and the vulnerable people in your life by learning how to recognize and protect yourself from fraud at Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre.

Go to www.antifraudcentre.ca and http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/scrty/frdprvntn/menu-eng.html.

Please report any attempts of this kind to the Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

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