Tax Office warning on scams

Tax Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo today warned the community to be alert to tax related scams in the lead up to tax time.

"During the busy tax season, scammers will try to catch you off guard using phone calls, letters, text messages, emails, bogus websites and even false job advertisements to trick you into providing your personal details and pay 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.

"Anyone who receives these types of calls should treat it with caution and not provide any personal details or money," said Mr D'Ascenzo.

"The ATO will never ask you to pay money to receive your refund.

"If you need to confirm someone is calling 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."

"We keep the community informed about any scam reports we receive, either through the media or on the ATO website. These scams are then investigated by the ATO and other government agencies as appropriate, including the Australian Federal Police," said Mr D'Ascenzo.

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, contact the ATO client contact centre immediately by phoning 13 28 61 (8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday).

You can also report suspected email scams 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

www.scamwatch.gov.au or www.staysmartonline.gov.au

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