January 31, 2023
Increase in Scams
Scammers go to extraordinary lengths to impersonate trusted organisations, like the ATO. They create fake login webpages for government services and send emails that look and sound like something that the ATO might send.
But there are always a few details that can give away a scam.
The ATO will never:
- ask for your personal information on social media platforms. Always make sure that you engage with the ATO’s verified accounts, and never give out your personal identifying information on social media, like your TFN or bank account details.
- request payment of a tax debt through gift cards, cryptocurrency or cardless cash.
- send you a link to login to their online services in an email or text message. This is a tactic scammers use to harvest information so the ATO will never include this in their communications.
- threaten you with immediate arrest. If this happens, tell the ATO or report the incident to us at the office on 9387 5637.
Being vigilant of the warning signs and taking time to protect yourself might just save you from falling into a scammer’s trap.
Source: Australian Taxation Office
