There are many types of fraud, and fraudsters are inventing new ones daily.

Taxpayers should be vigilant when they receive, either by telephone, mail, text message or email, a fraudulent communication that claims to be from the Town of Ajax requesting personal information such as a property tax roll number, credit card number, or bank account number.

You should also beware of scammers posing as Town of Ajax employees or agents and offering deals.  If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The fraudster may insist that this personal information is needed so that you can receive a discount or a refund or authorize a payment.  Taxpayers should never respond to these fraudulent communications or click on any of the links provided in an unsolicited email.

Anytime you are uncomfortable with information being requested from you by phone or email, please contact the Town of Ajax directly at 905-683-2718.

The Canadian Competition Bureau has published an electronic resource called Little Black Book of Scams which provides examples of common scams:

https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04333.html

How Should I Expect that Town of Ajax Contact Me?

To identify legitimate communications from the Town of Ajax, be aware of these guidelines and know what to expect when we contact you or when you contact us.

By Phone
If you call the Town of Ajax, we may:
  • verify your identity by asking for personal information such as your full name, property address and/or roll number
  • ask for details about your account, such as when you last paid or how you typically make tax payments
  • in the case of a business enquiry – we will ask you to email us Articles of Incorporation or similar legal documents to verify who we may speak with from the company

The Town of Ajax will never

  • ask for information about your credit cards, bank card, or driver's license
  • demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, credit card, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others
  • use aggressive language or threaten you with arrest or sending the police
  • leave voicemails that are threatening or give personal or financial information
By Email 

The Town of Ajax may:

  • respond to your query by email
  • respond to your query with a link or a form.  The Town will not send out unsolicited emails.

The Town of Ajax will never:

  • send you an email with a link to your refund
  • demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, credit card, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others
  • offer discounts or benefits for on-line payments
  • threaten you with arrest or a prison sentence
By Mail

The Town of Ajax may:

  • respond to your request to sign up for a pre-authorized payment plan with a form requesting financial information such as the name of your bank and its location
  • send you a notice of assessment or reassessment
  • ask you to pay an amount you owe through any of the Town of Ajax's official payment options which can be found on the Town’s website 
  • write to you to begin a collection or tax sale process

The Town of Ajax will never:

  • set up a meeting with you in a public place to take a payment
  • demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others
  • threaten you with arrest or a prison sentence

By Text Messages/Instant Messaging

The Town of Ajax never uses text messages or instant messaging such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to communicate directly with taxpayers under any circumstance. If a taxpayer receives text or instant messages claiming to be from the Town of Ajax, they are scams! 

When in doubt, ask yourself
  • Why is the caller pressuring me to act immediately? Am I certain the caller is a Town of Ajax employee?
  • Do I pay my taxes regularly? Have I received a notice saying I owe tax?
  • Have I received written communication from the Town of Ajax by email or mail about the subject of the call?
  • Is this call unsolicited?  You should know that the Town does not retain phone numbers or email addresses on file unless you have previously contacted us.
  • Is the caller asking for information I would not usually give to the Town or that is not related to the money I owe the Town of Ajax?
  • Do I have an instalment payment due soon?

 If you do have a debt with the Town of Ajax and can't pay in full, contact the Town of Ajax tax department, we will work with you to establish repayment terms, but will never threaten or harass you for payment.

How to protect yourself from identity theft

Be suspicious if you are ever asked to pay taxes or fees to someone other than Town of Ajax in relation to your property taxes in return for a discount.  These requests are scams.

Keep your address and contact details current with us.

Be careful before you click on links in any email you receive. Some criminals may be using a technique known as phishing to steal your personal information when you click on the link.

Caller ID is a useful function. However, the information displayed can be altered by criminals. Never use only the displayed information to confirm the identity of the caller whether it be an individual, a company or a government entity.  If in doubt, call back using the official contact numbers on our website or 905-683-4550 for general inquiries.

Protect your social insurance number. Don't use it as a piece of ID and never reveal it to anyone unless you are certain the person asking for it is legally entitled to that information. If an organization asks for your social insurance number, ask if it is legally required to collect it, and if not, offer other forms of ID.

Pay attention to our billing cycle and ask about any missing account statements or suspicious transactions.  

  • View current billing cycle
  • Shred unwanted documents or store them in a secure place
  • Immediately report lost or stolen credit or debit cards
  • Ask a trusted neighbour to pick up your mail when you are away or ask that a hold be placed on delivery

What to do if you think you were a victim of fraud?

If you suspect you may be the victim of fraud or have been tricked into giving personal or financial information, contact the Durham Region Police Financial Crimes Unit immediately.

Additional tips on what to do if you are a victim of fraud can be found here:

https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/victim-victime-eng.htm

The Durham Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit
Phone: (905) 579-1520, ext. 5232
Email: fraud@drps.ca
Web Site: https://members.drps.ca/internet_explorer/our_organization/unit.asp?Scope=Unit&ID=17

The Canadian Anti-fraud Centre
Mon to Fri - 10 am to 4:45 pm (Eastern time)
Phone - 1-888-495-8501
Online -  https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm 

If you have concerns about your tax account, contact:

The Town of Ajax
Phone - 905-683-2718
Email  - tax@ajax.ca
https://www.ajax.ca/en/home-and-property/property-taxes.aspx