The Canada Revenue Agency on July 16 charged a Calgary, Alberta, man for filing false tax returns with information gathered from fake job postings.

The CRA alleges Chun Zhu, aka Ted Zhu, as early as March 2018 started gathering personal information from individuals who applied on fake job postings that he set up. In February 2019, Zhu used the information he gathered from these applications to electronically prepare, print out and file as many as 317 personal tax returns, according to the charges. These returns claimed unwarranted tax refunds totaling more than C$760,000 which he attempted to have deposited into bank accounts which he controlled.

Zhu is charged with one count of claiming a refund to which he or any other person is not entitled, two counts of fraud over C$5,000, and two counts of obtaining and using another's identity to commit an indictable offense.

“The CRA remains dedicated to maintaining the integrity of Canada's tax system, and the social and economic well-being of Canadians during these unprecedented times,” the agency stated. “As a result of Covid-19, we are seeing the increased importance of these benefits, and are working to ensure that they continue to be available to Canadians. Any individual or business who claims income earned, losses or benefits that they are not entitled to, including ineligible claims related to new Covid-19 benefits, will face serious consequences.”