The ATO has again warned taxpayers to be alert for scammers impersonating the ATO, as it appears they have changed tactics in 2019. Specifically, the ATO is seeing the emergence of a new tactic where: “scammers are using an ATO number to send fraudulent SMS messages to taxpayers asking them to click on a link and hand over their personal details in order to obtain a refund”. The ATO has received reports of scammers maliciously manipulating the calling line identification so the phone number that appears is different to the number from which the call originated. This is referred to as “spoofing” and is a common technique used by scammers to appear legitimate. It appears these scams aim to steal taxpayers' personal details and identities. The ATO has advised it will not:
Editor: If you are unsure about a call, text message or email purportedly received from the ATO, the best advice is not to reply.
Should you have any concerns, please contact our office directly, or alternatively you can call the ATO on 1800 008 540 to check if the contact was legitimate or to report a scam.
The material and contents provided in this publication are informative in nature only. It is not intended to be advice and you should not act specifically on the basis of this information alone. If expert assistance is required, professional advice should be obtained.