Ottawa man's mysterious tax bill may shine light on 'synthetic identity fraud'

An Ottawa man who filed his taxes early has discovered more than one nasty surprise.

Not only does Enrique Rosado owe much more than he thought, his bill shows the 65-year-old has probably been targeted in what experts call a complicated "synthetic identity" scam. 

His problems began in late March when he received a reassessment notice from the Canada Revenue Agency.

The letter explained that a Toronto-area business's tax filings indicated that Rosado earned $31,388 he hadn't disclosed in his own personal income tax filing.

Not only does Rosado say he doesn't work for Ontario 1975945 Ltd., as CRA insists, he has never heard of the numbered company, nor visited its Toronto address.

In fact, the last job held by the now-retired building superintendent was a modest one at a ByWard Market highrise. He filed taxes showing work income of about $45,000.

Highrise residents and the current superintendent both confirmed Rosado's employment history there.

Rosado suspects his social insurance number was stolen, and the mysterious numbered company fraudulently issued a T4 in his name.

When he alerted CRA to the mistake, however, he said the agency advised him he could only avoid paying the new $2,842 tax bill if he contacted the numbered company and directed it to issue a corrected T4.

Frustrated, Rosado said the CRA needs to better protect taxpayers from scammers.

"CRA is becoming too crime-friendly. It doesn't matter where it comes from, as long as they get their money," he said.

Exactly what Ontario 1975945 Ltd. is remains a mystery.

Provincial records suggest it does business under the name "Global Fresh Import and Export," but Toronto police weren't able to find anyone familiar with the company or its director at the Scarborough-area office it calls its headquarters.

The former director of a Toronto food import company that at one time did business under the name told CBC they hadn't used the name in at least five years.