We all hate those Canada Revenue Agency scam phone calls that arrive just as we are having dinner.

The RCMP due to public pressure have been cracking down on the phone-calling culprits and have arrested a number of Brampton residents.

The most recent man arrested will appear in Brampton Court on January 18 to face charges of fraud over $5,000, possession of proceeds of crime and laundering the proceeds of crime.

Another man was charged last month with similar offences.

The RCMP allege the recent suspect was charged in connection with “transnational telephone frauds, including the CRA telephone scam, the bank investigator scam and the Tech Support scam.”

Staff-Sgt Ken Derakshan, of the Greater Toronto Area Financial Crime Section, said the arrests stem from a 2018 investigation called Project Octavia.

“These telephone fraudsters, operating from overseas, have been targeting the Canadian public since 2014,” the Mounties said in a release. “These fraudsters continue to modify their deceitful pitch to target Canadians.”

Derakshan said 10 people have been charged in a number of police raids on illegal call centres in India, which led to arrests in Canada.

“Whether masterminds of the scheme or mules facilitating the money laundering, the RCMP will investigate and bring to justice those who extend the criminal tentacles of their fraudulent operations into Canada,” he warned. “Fraud and money laundering cause devastating financial and psychological consequences to their victims.”

The RCMP said between 2014 and 2020, the CRA scam resulted in reported victim losses totaling more than $18.5 million. As of October 2020, the CRA, the bank investigator and Tech support scams have led to victim losses of more than $34 million.

Police said investigators uncovered “money mules or money mule managers,” who helped launder proceeds of crime within Canada and overseas.

The Mounties have charged Abhinav Bector, 25, and Thomas Pao,25, in connection with the scheme. Bector will appear Brampton court next Monday.

Two other men were charged last November and are believed to be in Nepal, police said.

Police warn that If someone on the phone is asking for your personal or banking information, hang up and report the activity to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If the caller is threatening you or your family, hang up and contact your local police.

If you receive an e-mail or text message making suspicious tax claims and urging you to click on a link to submit information, don’t interact and report the occurrence to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, through its website at www.antifraudcentre.ca, or by telephone at 1-888-495-8501.