Sep 14
Fake Tax Agent Scam
Posted by Peter Marmara-Stewart at Friday, September 14, 2018
We would like to share with you an update from CPA Australia regarding ATO impersonation scams reported by the community in September 2018.
The ATO is reporting a variation of the ATO impersonation scam where people are contacted by someone claiming to be from the ATO and demanding payment of a ‘debt’.
In the example provided by the ATO, the person pretending to be from the ATO dialed the victim’s tax agent into a three-way teleconference; however, it wasn’t the victim’s tax agent, it was someone pretending to be from the agent’s practice. The person then instructed the victim to pay the ‘debt’ on that day, and via Bitcoin.
The ATO reports that during July and August, it received more than 7000 scam reports to its dedicated phone line, with close to $190,000 being paid to scammers, and more than 1600 people handing over their personal or financial information.
- Fake Tax Agent Scam, CPA Tax News Issue 34
Know the status of your tax affairs. If you are aware of the details of debts owed, refunds due and lodgements outstanding, you are less likely to fall victim to a scam. You can regularly check your details via myGov or by contacting your registered tax agent.
If you receive a call like the example above, you can hang up and call your tax agent independently.
It's OK to hang up and phone the Australian Taxation Office on 1800 008 540 to check if the call was legitimate, or report a scam.
The ATO is reporting a variation of the ATO impersonation scam where people are contacted by someone claiming to be from the ATO and demanding payment of a ‘debt’.
In the example provided by the ATO, the person pretending to be from the ATO dialed the victim’s tax agent into a three-way teleconference; however, it wasn’t the victim’s tax agent, it was someone pretending to be from the agent’s practice. The person then instructed the victim to pay the ‘debt’ on that day, and via Bitcoin.
The ATO reports that during July and August, it received more than 7000 scam reports to its dedicated phone line, with close to $190,000 being paid to scammers, and more than 1600 people handing over their personal or financial information.
- Fake Tax Agent Scam, CPA Tax News Issue 34
Know the status of your tax affairs. If you are aware of the details of debts owed, refunds due and lodgements outstanding, you are less likely to fall victim to a scam. You can regularly check your details via myGov or by contacting your registered tax agent.
If you receive a call like the example above, you can hang up and call your tax agent independently.
It's OK to hang up and phone the Australian Taxation Office on 1800 008 540 to check if the call was legitimate, or report a scam.