The ATO Warns of Aggressive Phone Scams About Tax Debt
The ATO is again warning the public to be aware of a phone scam that is circulating, where fraudsters are intimidating people into paying a fake tax debt over the phone.
The aggressive scam attempts to force people to pay a fake tax debt immediately by threatening arrest if they don’t comply.
Phone scams are the number one type of scam in Australia. Scammers can impersonate ATO employees to obtain personal information for financial gain from you or your clients. Generally, phone scams demand payment for an unexpected debt or offer an unexpected refund or grant.
It is important your clients are aware that scammers try to collect personal information to steal their identity, including:
- tax file numbers
- names
- addresses
- dates of birth
- myGov user name and password
- bank account and credit card details
- drivers licence, Medicare and passport details.
This information is then used or sold to other criminals to commit identity fraud. This can happen immediately or even months or years later.
Phone scammers are likely to be pushy or aggressive. They may tell your clients that there is a warrant out for their arrest or offer to send a taxi to take them to a post office so that they can make a payment.
The ATO would never threaten jail or arrest and does not email, call or SMS asking for credit card or bank details to issue a refund.
Scammers pretending to be from the ATO are generally more common during tax time so encourage your clients to be vigilant and to protect their personal information.
Gavin: If you receive a call from the ATO we recommend that you should ask for the caller’s name and either call our office with the details or phone them back through the ATO’s switchboard on 13 28 69 or give our office a call on 1300 788 491.
More information on phone scams visit the ATO on www.ato.gov.au
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