ATO scam call today

SouthernComfort · Guru

ATO scam call today

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Yesterday I got an email from NAB sayinfg that some changes had been made to their accounting system and I should click on the link to confirm my details. I thought that this was a little unusal as I don't have and have never had an account or done business with them before so I trashed it. Today I got a reminder telling me that I hadn't done it yet = there are plenty of scammers out there..

Cheers
BB

Whenarewethere · Guru

Had them all. From numerous banks that I never had an account with. ATO only ever send letters. Had a person on phone trying to get me a tax refund, I said that I have an account that does my tax. I could not believe the persistent pushing that they can get better refunds than your accountant. BS! It is just endless the BS people try.

If I have the time I string they along as long as possible. Had one years ago on the phone for almost an hour. He exploded when he eventually woke up to the fact that I was scamming him wasting his time. Never seen someone so angry. it was priceless!

Knight · Senior Member

A couple of years ago I received a call from a women with a foreign accent who claimed to be from the ATO and she alleged that I had not lodged a tax return and was liable for a fine. She then asked for my full name and tax file number. In told her that as she was from the ATO she should know that information from my file. She hesitated but regained her confidence and demanded the information so that she could confirm I was the person she needed to speak with. I repeated my comment and she asked me to hold. After a minute or two (I was tempted to hang up) she returned and asked what my income had been for the last financial year. I again refused to answer and she became aggressive.

So I stopped the call and have never heard from her or the ATO since.

2-Smiths · Veteran Member

Yep, they're out there.

Received a txt from "Westpac" (that's what came up as the sender's number), saying that there was an issue with my account, and I needed to log in to the website to secure it.

From memory the URL was banking.westpac.com.au.access-manage.ga (Don't click on it!)

I chucked a message on FB and shared it with "everyone" to warn those not savvy about such things to watch out for it.

Can anyone spot the obvious issues in the above URL, that reveal it to be fake?

DMaxer · Guru

The majority of these scams all seem to originate out of one country.

wombat50 · Veteran Member

years ago when I was out shopping on a Saturday afternoon at 1.15pm I got a call from a woman saying she was from the ATO, said she was chasing up a non-payment of tax by me. I asked her to try to confirm she was from the ATO. me thinking since when does the ATO work Saturdays, She got in a huff and was yap yap yapping. I told her to call back in 30mins when I would be home still not believing it was the ATO. got no call back. the following Tuesday I get another call this time from a guy, I asked him to verify who he was and he gave me his employee number and phone number to call back on so said ok and we continued on, sorted out the problem, I then asked about the call I received on the Saturday and he did say that they did work on saturdays in certain sections.

Ge · Senior Member

i know if you have a tax debt sometimes it is passed on to a collection agency, fine no probs. What the pain is when the collection agency phones you they like to give the impression they are the ATO and do their best not to let you know they are from an outside agency. I think the reason is, they assume the that the name ATO is more scary than letting on that they are a private sub contracting mob.

Regards Ge

Greystone · Senior Member

The .ga extension indicates that the domain name is registered in Gabon!

SouthernComfort · Guru

Another one reported today....

www.9news.com.au/2019/01/10/12/19/scams-ato-phone-call-police-warning

Whenarewethere · Guru

Years ago I had a problem with a very expensive printer, the manufacturer needed to get into my computer to fix things.

The frightening thing was seeing just how easy it was for someone to take over your computer & then you are stuffed.

Bulariver · Veteran Member

Late last year I had a call from a Melbourne number 03 90157682 which I didn't recognise so didn't answer, so they left a message in a slightly American accent telling be I must call the number immediately or an arrest warrant would be issued in my name!! I was so angry, I drove to the local police station here in Queensland, and played the message to the duty cop who simply told me not to worry about it! But he did give me a little black book all about scams which contained a link to a Scam Watch website, so I was able to report the scam. Our various Governments should do something about this nonsense - at least stop these people using Australian numbers. We have so many useless nanny-state laws, how about some laws to stop these criminals. I am sure some vulnerable people might be scared enough to call the number, and then, I guess, the threats just get worse. Bula. PS You might be pleased to know I have not yet been arrested!

2-Smiths · Veteran Member

Greystone wrote:
The .ga extension indicates that the domain name is registered in Gabon!

Indeed. I'm told some other scams have originated from there recently.

Thing is, how many people would look at the URL, see "Westpac" in it, basically look no further, and just click through...

Chuck your (Westpac) Banking details in, and *WHAM*. Money gone from your actual WBC account, quicker than you can say...something you can say quickly.

Baggy Bums · Veteran Member

I never speak when Im answering my phone if its an unknown number. If its a real call,the person will speak and alls good, but often its a computer calling and there will be silence - it only connects once you speak. If someone says their name and keeps asking how I am I cut the call. Be rude. Its safer.

brickies · Guru

Would you please put in writing has I don't do bussiness on the phone

Big Gorilla · Guru

I've received the NAB email also and don't have an account with that Bank. The numbers these Scammers use look real, but are actually Skype numbers. Sometimes when I'm in a fun mood, I'll listen for a minute or 2 then say "Would you mind hanging on for a moment, someone is at the front Door". I put the phone down and pick it up again about 30 minutes later. Strangely, they have hung up !!!! I've also received another email from a Scammer demanding big Bitcoin money or US$1,000.00 to keep a secret I supposedly have. Will have to think more before I post it to ensure it will pass the Censor !!