THE Australian Tax Office has issued a warning on tax-related scams that take advantage of taxpayers.
Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said scammers used phone calls, letters, text messages, emails, bogus websites and even false job advertisements to trick people into providing personal details and paying money.
“We are aware of a current telephone scam operating where a person claiming to be from the ATO or “Taxation Department” calls offering you a grant of $7000 if you pay $200.
“These scammers try to appear more legitimate by providing you with a case number and a telephone number to call back on.”
Mr D’Ascenzo said anyone received such a call should treat it with caution and not provide any personal details or money.
“The ATO will never ask you to pay money to receive your refund,” he said.
To confirm that a call is legitimately from the ATO call 13 28 61.
“If something seems suspicious, too good to be true, asks you for personal details or cannot be verified by contacting an official source, it is likely to be a scam and you should report it,” Mr D’Ascenzo advised.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, contact the ATO client contact centre on 13 28 61.
Suspected email scams can be reported to the ATO by forwarding the email to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au.
For more information on how to protect yourself from scams go to www.ato.gov.au/onlinesecurity.
Other Australian Government sites are www.scamwatch.gov.au or www.staysmartonline.gov.au.
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