Protect yourself from scammers at tax time
An increase in scams predicted this year
Scam activity tends to build up around the end of the financial year, as people, at times hurriedly and anxiously, gather documentation and prepare their returns.
Scammers try to take advantage of the movement of all that sensitive financial and personal information in order to commit fraud and identity theft.
What to do now
- If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the ATO saying that you are due a refund, hang up.
- If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the ATO threatening you with immediate arrest or stating you must pay money to receive a tax refund, hang up.
- If you receive an email or an SMS claiming to be from the ATO asking you for personal or financial information, do not respond and hit delete.
- If you are uncertain as to the authenticity of a call or message from the ATO, hang up, then contact them directly to check on 1800 008 540 or visit the ATO website.
Talk to your family about these scams, and in particular, older relatives who may be more vulnerable to this type of crime. Tell them to ‘ask out loud’ and get a second opinion from a friend or family member if someone contacts them unexpectedly and says they are from the ATO.
Details
There are two main types of scam that involve criminals impersonating the ATO:
- Tax refund scams – scammers contact you claiming you are owed a tax refund, but say they require your personal details and a processing fee in order to give you the funds.
- Tax owed scams – scammers contact you claiming that you have a tax debt and demand you pay the instantly to avoid immediate arrest. They may ask for your credit card details, to pay with a money transfer, pay with gift cards or using a pre-paid debit card.
- And don’t forget about phishing – keep your personal details and your tax file number secret and only share it when required (for example, after you have started a new job or when you are lodging a return).
Staying safe
From time to time the ATO does contact people via phone and email, but the ATO will never:
- Threaten you with immediate arrest
- Ask you to pay money to receive a refund
- Ask you for personal information such as your Tax File Number (TFN) or credit card number via email or SMS.
- Ask you to download files from the internet or open attachments in an unexpected email.
The ATO also provides some excellent information on common types of scams and how to report one if you see it.
Comments