Go to whole of WA Government search

Stimulus scam warning

13 March 2020

Scammers have wasted no time in jumping on this week’s announcement by the Federal Government that a $750 stimulus payment will be made to welfare recipients in a bid to stem the economic fall-out from Coronavirus.

A number of Western Australians have contacted WAScamNet with details of a new ATO phishing scam that involves unsolicited phone calls from scammers claiming to be from the Australian Tax Office and stating they need credit card details in order to process the $750 payment.

Thankfully we’re not yet aware of any losses, but it’s vital that people remain vigilant and follow this advice:

• Confirm the caller’s name, title and why they are calling.
• Call the ATO on 1800 008 540 to verify the ATO contact.
• Never send money or give financial/personal details to someone you don’t know or trust.
• If you have provided your financial information, contact your financial provider immediately.

Scammers are using the ATO name to fleece thousands of dollars from victims.

Scammers pretending to be from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) is nothing new but in spite of repeated warnings by WA ScamNet and the ATO Western Australians still fall victim and sadly it can often be the more vulnerable members of our community.

Tax scam call warning

Have you ever wondered what a scam caller claiming to be from the  Australian Tax Office actually sounds like? Here is a recording of one such robotic voicemail.

Reporting ATO impersonation scams

  • If you or someone you know has paid or provided sensitive personal identifying information to a scammer, call us on 1800 008 540 to report.
  • If you receive a scam phone call or text message, and have not paid or provided sensitive personal identifying information to the scammer, you can report the scam via the online form Report a scam
  • For Email and text message scams you can email: reportscams@ato.gov.au
  • See the Australian Taxation office website for more information on how to report an ATO scam.

2017 Tax avoidance / 'Delinquent' file 

ScamNet received an email where a savvy consumer has recorded the scam message left on their phone asking for them to call a number with regards to outstanding tax. Do not call the number - just delete the message.  Do not send any money.  The ATO or any other government department would not contact you in this manner or use threats to make you pay a bill. 

If you have been in touch with the scammers or have any concerns please contact WA ScamNet on 1300 304 054.

2011 Refund scam 

In June 2011 Consumer Protection issued a media statement about 80-year-old Edna Sloan from Bunbury who had lost her life savings of $57,000 to overseas scammers, claiming she was the recipient of a grant of $7,000 from the ATO.

Like most of these scams, at first she was only asked to pay a small amount in comparison to the “tax refund” on offer. The method of payment was the preferred option of all scammers – by international wire transfer.

After the pensioner sent an initial $200 to Amat Saxena of India in order to obtain the “Australian Dermott Grant”, further requests for money came. Hear Edna's story.

The fraudsters had Edna convinced they were the ATO and took advantage of her innocent trusting nature. Edna says she didn’t have any reason to doubt them.

In the 12 months prior to Edna being scammed (June 2010-June 2011) Consumer Protection received more than a thousand reports from Western Australians who’d received calls from scammers claiming to be from the Australian Tax Office, other government departments, banks or official organisations.

How the scam works

The modus operandi is usually the same – a large amount of money waiting for them either because they had been overcharged, had a refund waiting to be collected, had been selected for a grant/funding, had a prize from a lottery they hadn’t entered or were the recipients of an inheritance.

The catch is the scammers ask for a smaller amount of money in fees which needs to be sent first before the larger amount can be released. This is referred to as an ‘advance fee fraud’.

No bank, organisation or government department will ask for money to be sent up front, particularly by wire transfer, before sending you funds you are legitimately entitled to. Sending money by wire transfer to people you don’t know is hazardous as, once collected, it can’t be recovered or traced.

Don’t forget cyber criminals use fake websites, bogus emails, automated phone messages and send professional-looking documents to make these scams look authentic. They also try to collect personal information in order to access your bank accounts.

Guard your personal information closely, change passwords regularly and do not trust website links are emailed to you – they can be a route to copycat sites.