New Tax Scam And Tips On How To Protect Yourself
ATO urges vigilance following new scams approach
The ATO is urging taxpayers to be vigilant during this 2022 tax time following an increase in reports of fake websites offering to provide tax file numbers (TFN) and Australian business numbers (ABN) for a fee but failing to provide the service.
The fake TFN and ABN services are often advertised on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The advertisements offer to obtain a TFN or ABN for a fee. Instead of delivering this service, the scammer uses these fraudulent websites to steal both money and personal information.
In 2021, more than 50,000 people reported ATO impersonation scams with victims losing a total of more than $800,000.
Tips to protect yourself from scammers
The ATO proposes a number of tips to protect yourself from scammers.
- Know your tax affairs – You will be notified about your tax debt before it is due. Check if you have a legitimate debt owed by logging into your myGov account via an independent search or by calling your tax agent if you have one (on a phone number sourced independently).
- Guard your personal and financial information – Be careful when clicking on links, downloading files or opening attachments in emails and SMS text messages. Only give your personal information to people you trust and don’t share it on social media.
- If you are unsure, don’t engage – If a call, SMS or email leaves you wondering if it is genuine, don’t reply. Instead, you should phone the ATO’s dedicated scam line 1800 008 540 to check if it is legitimate. You can also verify or report a scam online at ato.gov.au/scams. You can also visit ScamWatch to get information about scams (not just tax scams).
- Know legitimate ways to make payments – Scammers may use threatening tactics to trick their victims into paying fake debts via unusual methods. For example, they might demand pre-paid gift cards or transfers to non-ATO bank accounts. To check that a payment method is legitimate, visit ato.gov.au/howtopay.
- Talk to your family and friends about scams – If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a tax-related scam, call the ATO as soon as you can.
