**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE**

The Timmins Police Service is issuing a public advisory in regards to recent fraudulent activity focused on international students in our area. A sophisticated fraud campaign is apparently underway where international students are being targeted by a group of phone based fraudsters.

The Timmins Police Service is in receipt of a complaint alleging fraudulent activity where an international student was apparently victimized.

In one case, an international student was contacted by a person falsely identifying themselves as a representative of the Canadian Revenue Agency. The caller went on to explain how the student was required to pay a significant amount of money to satisfy an Immigration Tax.

The victim then received an elaborately staged phone call from a person claiming to be with the Timmins Police Service where the fraudulent caller maintained payment must be made or the respondent would be arrested.

This matter is under investigation by the Timmins Police Service.

In consultation with the Canadian Revenue Agency, the Timmins Police Service recommends contacting the Canadian Revenue Agency to become fully acquainted with taxation policies that apply to immigrants to Canada and tax exposure of any earnings acquired while in Canada.

Anyone who is contacted by phone in regards to any similar fraudulent solicitation for funds to satisfy an “Immigration Tax” is urged to take the necessary precautions to ensure the validity of the contact.

Any such contact should be referred to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/reportincident-signalerincident/index-eng.htm or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

Filed under: Local News