Beware of phone calls supposedly from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Recently there have been a lot of fake phone calls from the ATO. These people can be very convincing and can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared.
Here are a couple of tips to help you to recognise a fake call:
• The caller may accuse you of some level of fraud and suggest that unless you pay an amount immediately you are going to go to jail. The ATO doesn’t work this way. This tactic can be particularly effective with the elderly.
• The caller may ask you to confirm your personal details before they discuss “your ATO account”. These details could later be used for identity fraud.
• Most times a genuine ATO officer will call your Tax Agent. If you are unsure then insist that they call your agent.
• Generally speaking ATO employees are quite courteous. If the caller sounds pressuring or even threatening then the chances are that they are not from the ATO.
Pro-Tip
If you are in doubt ask for their phone number and pass it on to your Tax Agent to call them back. If you feel that your personal details may have been compromised then please let your Tax Agent know and they can discuss with the ATO as to whether a new tax file number should be issued.
Author: Matthew Moonen
Email: matthew@faj.com.au
