The ATO said the new batch of scammers are claiming they’ve suspended their target’s tax file number following suspected fraudulent activity.
So far this year the ATO has received 638 reports of this scam, with seven victims paying out nearly $118,000.
Assistant Commissioner Trent Jakubowski said that while the number of people paying these scammers was low, the large amounts being lost per person was alarming.
“We’re seeing that instead of scammers asking for a specific amount of money, they’re requesting victims transfer every last dollar in their bank account,” he said.
“What’s most malicious, is that in some cases, these scammers are stealing money under the guise of saving it from other fraudsters trying to access their account.”
Starting with a ‘robo-call’, the two common scripts have said that scammers have your TFN, which has been suspended, and money in accounts needs to be transferred to a safe place to protect it; or that your TFN has been used illegally and you need to move all the money in your bank account to a holding account pending the outcome of legal action.
Young people between the ages of 18 and 24 have paid the most under this new tactic, with one person losing $36,000.
“This is a reminder for everyone to keep their guard up when answering an unexpected call. While we more often hear stories of older Australians being targeted by scammers, these devastating losses show that anyone can be a target,” Mr Jakubowski said.
The ATO does call taxpayers, but will never:● send unsolicited pre-recorded phone messages;● use aggressive or rude behaviour, or threaten you with immediate arrest, jail or deportation;● suspend your TFN;● request direct transfers of money to a personal bank account;● project its number on to your caller ID.
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