A woman was nearly out $1,600 last week had Superstore staff not intervened.

Winkler Police report they were dispatched to Superstore on March 14 regarding a female who had purchased $1100 in Steam cards after receiving multiple phone calls from an individual claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. Police learned that store staff had prevented the female from providing the card numbers to the fraudster over the phone and the store was going to attempt to refund the female her $1100.

Police also learned earlier in the day the female purchased $500 in Steam cards from Staples and provided the card numbers to the caller. Police informed the female that this money could not be refunded as the cards were already scratched revealing the numbers.

During the phone conversations the female also provided the caller with the name of her accountant. Going even further the scammer then called the woman, this time posing as her accountant, and instructed her to pay the money.

Winkler Police Service say CRA phone scams continue to be reported, and remind residents the CRA does not have the authority to arrest people.

"These phone calls are scams. Please do not provide any personal information over the phone in these situations," police said in a release.

The CRA scam often begins with potential victims contacted by someone claiming to be a representative from the Canada Revenue Agency.

The scammer may request personal banking information, or threaten the potential victim to pay non-existent debt to the CRA.

The victim is sometimes instructed to pay the debt using pre-paid, untraceable gift cards.

The CRA reminds residents they will never send an email with a link asking to divulge personal or financial information.