Call Claiming from Tax Office

tajid on 19/04/2017 - 10:33

Hi guys,

Just got a missed call from 02 8014 4676 and when I called back the guy (with a Filipino accent - tends to be a sales person) claimed he's from tax office (government agency) and started to ask for my details. I insisted that he was the one calling and therefore if you are from tax office you should have my details and I'm not willing to provide them over the phone.

He replied with I don't have time for this….

I googled the number and nothing recorded. It's very fishy, what does everyone think of this?

Financial

Comments

  • oscargamer on 19/04/2017 - 10:39
    +16

    what do you think?

  • Ughhh on 19/04/2017 - 10:42
    +4

    He's probably going to say there's an arrest warrant for you, which is a lie and a scam.

    If in doubt, call the tax office yourself using the official number.

    • MeesusEff on 19/04/2017 - 11:33
      +1

      Ahhh yes, my mum got the 'police are coming because you committed tax fraud' - TWICE! If only I was the one that picked up the phone instead…

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2017 - 10:45
    +1

    MUST BE LEGIT CALLING FROM A SKYPE NUMBER

  • alz on 19/04/2017 - 10:55
    +3

    lol reminds of my this guy i know who got an email from Nigeria saying he won the lotto and asked him for his banking / card details. Long story short, his accounts were emptied.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2017 - 10:59
      +5

      Wow! How can they withdraw money if they just know the banking details. Of course assuming that he didn't give out passwords.

      • Kangal on 19/04/2017 - 15:25
        +1

        Clearly you underestimate the technology that the Nigerians posses.

        • Ranagade on 19/04/2017 - 15:46
          +1

          I believe most Nigerians request for a small sum of "processing" money to give you the million dollars in return.

  • sien on 19/04/2017 - 10:55
    +2

    The ACCC has good information on standard scams:

    https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/steer-clear-of-tax-sca…

  • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2017 - 10:58

    Just ask for the TFN. 100% scam.

  • Phyph on 19/04/2017 - 10:58
    +1

    Could be a hoax. However when you call the Tax Office they will ask for proof of identity. As OP returned the call it would be treated as an incoming call and subject to POI checks. Give them fake info and see what they say.

  • Savas on 19/04/2017 - 11:01

    Yeah obviously they should be calling from a number listed on their website

  • railspider on 19/04/2017 - 11:23
    +2

    Obviously a scam.

    Good rule of thumb you should follow in the future - only return calls to the inbound number listed on their website.

  • Cheapsize on 19/04/2017 - 11:32

    OP called back, there would probably be no record of the first missed call when OP called back, unless the operator accessed OP's details. Instead Id advise OP to call the ATO enquires line and state that someone claiming to be from the ATO has called me at x time. Is that correct what do the notes say and if so what it is in regards to.

  • Samsungnote10 on 19/04/2017 - 11:44

    I got a call yesterday from ATO, they left a msg saying please call back on ATO on 1300 and quote number 108

    I was a bit suspicious, I googled the number and it seemed legit
    however being a bit paranoid I stil thought it could be some elbaroate scam where they redirected my call,

    the lady cliamed it was for a ABN GST registration check which I did register for gst recently,

    I was pretty confident it wasnt a scam at this point, however the questions she asked me lasted 10 minutes ranging from how much investment did you do for setting up the business, how much do yo uthink you will sell, how lng will it take to make a profit, what are you selling, are you selling retail or wholesale, have you done your bas statement, you have a bas statemnt overdue ,and your personal tax return

    until, I got fed up and asked, how many questions are you going to ask me?
    and then she said, oh thats fine , thank you very much,

    so I guess it wasnt a scam, but damn annoying

  • airzone on 19/04/2017 - 12:04
    +1

    Classic scam.

  • Baebs on 19/04/2017 - 12:12
    -1

    HURR-DURR

  • orza on 19/04/2017 - 13:12
    +1

    it's a trap

  • supnigs super skids on 19/04/2017 - 14:00

    Just hang $hit on them. I do it when I have time.

  • blehgg on 19/04/2017 - 15:45
    +2

    you need to pay using itunes gift cards!

  • cloudy on 19/04/2017 - 15:52
    +1

    If u call and someone picks up straight away u should be sure it's not the ATO. There is always a wait on the call centre, service standards aren't that high in australia :p

  • CheapskateQueen on 19/04/2017 - 19:05
    +3

    To the original OP, sounds like the call you got was a scam.

    It is a weird situation that when the ATO makes an outbound call to someone they do need to conduct Proof of Identity (POI) check and you do have to satisfy the criteria for the call to go ahead.

    If you've had recent activity with the ATO (e.g. in the midst of an audit, objection process etc) and it makes sense that you're receiving a call, it will probably be legit.

    But if you have no reason to expect a call from the ATO, the best thing to do is ask for their full name and extension phone number. Call the ATO on the number on the ATO website and ask to be put through to said person. No ATO staff member will have an issue with this.

    It is unfortunate but there are a crapload of tax scams that happen. Yes there are a lot of people that are very gullible, but it seems with tax scams even intelligent ones get caught out; they prey on people's fear of getting in trouble because it's the "government", and that causes momentary lapses in judgement.

    On that note, guard your TFN with your life.

  • chumlee on 19/04/2017 - 19:14
    +1

    Ask them to spell Australian Taxation Office.

  • weeeen on 20/04/2017 - 08:28
    +1

    I got several of these, most being recorded messages to which I was meant to ring back. Finally an Indian sounding chap rang to which I replied "I'm not interested, this is a scam!" He said "How do you know"? I replied "cos the Tax office never rings people like this" He paused and said "Sh*t! Now what do I do!" then hung up. Haven't had any since!! :)

  • goodcopbadcop on 20/04/2017 - 09:13

    I've never known the ATO to ring up. They would never give out an employees number to ring back. They always put any instruction for you to call in writing. Everything moves slow with any form of communications with the ATO.

  • Dazza610 on 20/04/2017 - 11:46
    +2

    If, like they say (the police are involved and about to arrest me) I thank them for the heads-up, and would put together a go bag.

    I then go on to ask if they like their job.

    I ask if they think theft is immoral.

    By then they usually hang-up, because they know your on to them, and they realise that it's time to ring the next number on their list.

    Why do they persist?

    It's all about the numbers.
    If for instance, they contact others in this way 1000 times, they WILL strike someone vulnerable. So that 1 in a 1000 makes it very lucrative.

    That being said, I just love playing with 'em.
    I put on the frail voice, and not knowing about these computer thingies.
    I ask them what they want me to do? Then I put the phone down while they're explaining, occasionally picking it up and saying what was that?

  • try2bhelpful on 20/04/2017 - 12:15
    +1

    We screen all our calls with an answering machine. Anyone who knows us waits for the beep and yells, we then pickup the phone. I can guarantee we have at least 3 calls a day where we hear beep, beep, beep through the machine. If you don't answer the phone you don't have to deal with the telemarketing and scam people. They usually don't bother trying if they can't talk to you directly.

    • lainey13 on 23/04/2017 - 16:53

      I havent had a landline for years… no more scam calls or auto dial bots :) in laws have one and get those all the time.

      • try2bhelpful on 23/04/2017 - 17:14

        I suppose it depends on the mobile plan you are on. Can certainly see your point. The answering machine is the compromise we live with. I suppose it is that or get the whistle to blow in their ears.

  • Ughhh on 20/04/2017 - 13:32
    +1

    YouTube "IRS scams" on YouTube, the American version of ATO. Callers most likely from the same scam call centre.

  • tim374 on 20/04/2017 - 16:59

    If the call shows as not being from a private number then it's not the ATO.

  • HeWhoKnows on 20/04/2017 - 17:31

    The tax office doesn't call you. They probably dont even have your phone number! They only send letters. Full stop

    • CheapskateQueen on 20/04/2017 - 17:52

      Incorrect. ATO does call. It's just that it'll come from an operational area and not the call centre.

      Sometimes ATO will call re outstanding tax returns, BAS, overdue debts etc If they're going to conduct a review or audit they'll often start with a phone call to let you know to expect the notification letter (basically a polite heads up). But again, if you don't have any reason to believe they should be contacting you, do as I said above. Call them back on the number on their website. Just be careful.

      I work in tax and even I did that; questioned why they were calling me, told them to give me their name and contacted them via the ATO website. I've done it with my own bank too. They were completely legit but I'm not gonna give my info to someone that called me.

      They have call centres dedicated to tax fraud overseas. Major operations. it's a lucrative business.

      Back in the dark ages I used to sell AMEX cards over the phone (I didn't realise how awesome they were at the time (when used correctly). I was so evil duping poor civilians into signing up lol) Anyways, we were cold callers working off an auto dialler. I can't believe how many people would give me all their info over the phone. Cray cray.

  • grog on 20/04/2017 - 17:56

    Nice bloke from tax office told He told me the police were were on the way to my house and he would could call them off if i paid immediately over the phone.

    Me "ok then i will put the kettle on and wait till the cops get here"

    Phone back on cradle… nice cuppa and bikkies…

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