Scams are more prevalent at EOFY than any other time of year: You get a phone call. The caller says they’re from the ATO. They want you to pay a debt – which you know nothing about – or are asking for your personal details.
But it doesn’t seem quite right. Maybe the caller:
- is aggressive
- threatens that if you don’t pay you will be arrested and sent to jail, or
- tries to make you call another number outside normal business hours.
Or maybe you have received an email or SMS offering you a tax refund or asking for personal details, but it just smells wrong.
What to do if you think it is a scam?
You need to check it out.
If you get a phone call, ask the caller for:
- their full name and extension number
- their team leader’s full name and extension number.
You can call 1800 008 540 to verify that the caller is from the ATO.
Mobile phone scams differ in appearance and level of sophistication but will generally claim that you are eligible for a refund and instruct you to click on a link to submit a form to receive it.
Generally, they link to a bogus ATO website asking for personal information, including your mobile phone number, and credit card details. By clicking the link or filling in the details you will potentially expose yourself to identity theft.
Scams that come to you on your mobile can be difficult to recognise. You should be wary of unsolicited texts or messages claiming to be from the ATO. Occasionally the ATO may send you an SMS – however, they will never message you asking for personal or credit card details.
Email scams usually come in the form of an email that claims to come from the ATO and usually offer a tax refund. Generally, they link to a bogus ATO website asking for personal and credit card details. These emails can differ in their appearance and level of sophistication, but will generally state that you are eligible for a refund and instruct you to click on a link to submit a form to receive it.
One version of this scam contains an attachment infected with a virus. If you receive an email like this, do not open the attachment.
Under no circumstances should you give personal information, including credit card or banking details. Anyone who has received a suspicious phone call or email should contact the ATO immediately.
If you receive an email or SMS, do not open any attachments or hyperlinks. You can report the email by forwarding the whole email to the ATO or calling them. You should then delete the email or SMS.
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