News Item

Saanich, BC – The District of Saanich is warning residents and business owners about reports of a property tax payment scam involving third parties offering to pay residential or commercial property taxes on a property owner’s behalf.

These offers may be presented as a way to get a discount, avoid inconvenience, simplify payment, consolidate bills, earn rewards, or have someone else take care of the payment process.

These offers are not authorized by the District of Saanich. The District does not offer property tax discounts through third-party companies, payment consolidators, agents or individuals. The District also does not authorize third parties to negotiate reduced property tax payments or make special payment arrangements on behalf of residential or commercial property owners.

In a similar alert reported in Kamloops, residents were warned about messages impersonating a municipal official and offering a special property tax discount while requesting sensitive information, including a copy of a property tax notice.

Protect yourself

• Only use existing payment methods offered by the District. Verify your property tax balance and payment options directly through official District of Saanich channels.
• When paying through your financial institution, confirm that the payee and account or folio information match your current property tax notice.
• Be cautious of anyone offering to reduce, discount, consolidate, or manage your property tax payment, and do not send them any money.
• Be wary of anyone impersonating a municipal official, elected official, District employee, bank representative or payment company.
• Do not provide banking information, credit card information, mySaanich login credentials or copies of property tax notices to unknown parties.
• Do not click payment links sent by unsolicited email, text message, social media or messaging apps.
• If you are unsure whether a payment request or service is legitimate, contact the District of Saanich directly before making a payment. You can call the property tax line at 250-475-5454 or email propertytax@saanich.ca. You can also check your MySaanich account.
• Keep payment confirmations and check that your payment has been applied to your property tax account.

 

Think you may have been targeted?

• Save copies or screenshots of the message.
• If you have provided financial or personal information, contact your financial institution immediately and report the incident to Saanich Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

 

Important reminders
Whether you own a residential or commercial property, you are responsible for ensuring your property taxes are paid in full and on time through official payment channels. A payment made by an unauthorized third party does not remove the property owner’s responsibility if the payment is reversed, declined, or found to be fraudulent.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca