Beware of new ATO scam

tax scam warning sign

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is warning older Australians to be wary of phone calls and electronic correspondence from the ATO.

This includes emails, SMS and faxes. The ATO is warning that scammers may be trying to steal your money or personal information.

The ATO said it would never:

  • Ask for money to receive a refund or payment from the ATO or Centrelink

  • Demand payment of a debt using a prepaid credit card or gift card, such as iTunes, or into a personal bank account

  • Ask for personal information, such as a bank account or credit card number, via email or SMS

  • Demand a Tax File Number (TFN) over the phone

  • Threaten a person with immediate arrest

 

If you've been contacted this way, then call the ATO on 1800 008 540 or Scamwatch on 1300 795 995

For more information, please visit ato.gov.au/scams

4 comments

The ATO is a scam itself

Spot on Hawkeye :)

how else is the country going to run if we dont pay tax?

The Liberal Party thinks it can.

Each State should be independent and keep the taxes generated within it.

Divorce Canberra and run our own agenda with our own police and army.

We in Victoria are sick of supporting  ACT,Tasmania ,NT and Queenland.

No No No No No

We need to get rid of the states (especially bloody Victoria) to stop the type of attitude you are displaying Campbell.

We need to work as 1 country with 1 government, not 9

HEAR..HEAR....

The ATO's website says "When you phone us, please have your fax file number (TFN) and any documentation we may have sent to help us establish your identity."

So it's obviously not quite accurate to say "The ATO said it would never...demand a Tax File Number over the phone".

Ahh!    This is the difference    

WHEN YOU phone us......      It is not an unsolicited phone call to you, the taxpayer....

....IF you receive a phone call from the ATO.    They used to deal mainly by letter, or now by their electronic service.   Nowadays you would have to be lucky.   I don't even get their tax assessments by letter.   You have to go search for it on MyGov which is really difficult for some older people

4 comments



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