Don’t be fooled!

Where there is opportunity there are opportunists, scammers are always on the lookout for the next victim.  With tax time looming the ATO have released a notification on how to spot a scammer, in most cases calls and emails:

• are unsolicited
• are pushy and can be intimidating, threatening arrests or penalties if payment for an unknown tax debt is not made immediately
• demand payment in full and in some instances via unconventional means such as iTunes cards, cash transfers or gift vouchers
• ask you for your personal or financial information or to confirm information they pretend they have
• are often poorly worded, containing spelling and grammatical mistakes
• may promise you a tax refund in exchange for a payment or personal information
• may contain an attachment or fake links requesting you to lodge a form – opening these attachments or links can cause you to download spyware or a virus.

So what can you do?

It’s important to remember that by engaging a Registered Tax Agent such as HQB Chartered Accountants, all calls from the ATO would filter through us.  With that being said if you are the recipient of a call or email, please notify your Tax Agent or the ATO immediately.  The ATO have a dedicated scam reporting line.

For phone call scams:

• hang up immediately
• call the dedicated scam reporting line 1800 008 540 between 8am–6pm EST, Monday to Friday.

For Email scams:

• refrain from clicking on links or opening attachments
• forward the email to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au

For more information from the ATO, click here.