Tax Scammer Alerts
The ATO has warned taxpayers to be alert for scammers impersonating the ATO, as it appears they have changed tactics in 2019.
Specifically, the ATO is seeing the emergence of a new tactic where:
“scammers are using an ATO number to send fraudulent SMS messages to taxpayers asking them to click on a link and hand over their personal details in order to obtain a refund”.
The ATO also reported seeing scammers maliciously manipulating the calling line identification. Such manipulation ensures the phone number that appears is different to the number from which the call originated. This is referred to as “spoofing” and is a common technique used by scammers to appear legitimate.
The ATO has further warned:
“This scam is not just targeting your money, but is after your personal information in an attempt to steal your identity......
Taxpayers should be wary of any phone call, text message or email asking you to provide login, personal or financial information.”
The ATO has advised it will not:
- Send an email or SMS asking a taxpayer to click on a link to provide login, personal or financial information, or to download a file or open an attachment;
- Use aggressive or rude behavior, or threaten taxpayers with arrest, jail or deportation;
- Request payment of a debt via iTunes or Google Play cards, pre-paid Visa cards, cryptocurrency or direct credit to a personal bank account; or
- Request a fee in order to release a refund owed to taxpayers.
The ATO has made it clear that if taxpayers are unsure about a call, text message or email receives, the best advice is simply not to reply.
Specifically, the ATO has advised that:
“ it’s OK to slow down and phone us on 1800 008 540 to check if the contact was legitimate or to report a scam”
Also, feel free to contact JFT Partners if you have any questions or if you are seeking any professional advice.
Ref: ATO website, 1 February 2019 and 4 February 2019
Furthermore
For the month of December 2018, these statistics included;
- 25473 phone scam reports being officially recorded;
- 1625 phishing scam emails reported to
- $542,456 reported as being paid to scammers (with payments via Google Play, iTunes and Bitcoin accounting for the majority of losses); and
- up to 56% of clients had provided scammers with their personal identifying information.
In short, ATO Intelligence collected throughout December 2018 demonstrates an upward trend in scam reporting to the ATO compared to this time last year.
As a result, the ATO is actively reminding the community to remain alert to scams at all time.