ATO Calls upon Taxpayers for Exercising Caution

ATO (Australian Tax Office) is reiterating to citizens for being vigilant and wary about frauds during the current tax season, reported 4-traders.com dated June 26, 2012.

According to Michael D'Ascenzo, Commissioner of Taxation, ATO till now has got more than 5,000 complaints associated with phishing e-mails purporting to be from the taxation office, while more than 3,000 complaints related to attempted phone frauds. Smartcompany.com.au published this dated June 27, 2012.

The scam ATO e-mails depict graphics of the Australian Tax Office, while their senders pose to be from the ATO itself.

D'Ascenzo stated that as taxpayers approached closing of the current fiscal annum, while numerous citizens anticipated refunds, online fraudsters were utilizing the opportunity for posing as representatives of the Australian Tax Office. Therefore, it was vital for the public to remain watchful since the fraudsters were doing more and more towards making their fraudulent schemes look increasingly real and lawful, he added. Finance.ninemsn.com.au published this dated June 26, 2012.

Elsewhere D'Ascenzo suggested people to remain careful about phone calls alternatively e-mails indicating they were going to get a refund alternatively directing them for transferring money abroad. According to him, the ATO wouldn't ever request anyone for giving out their credit card particulars alternatively personal information like passport details or drivers license over e-mail. 4-traders.com published this dated June 26, 2012.

D'Ascenzo explained that soon as scammers had anyone's private details they could capture his identity followed with executing fraud against him that could result in dire consequences. They could file spurious tax returns, carry out illegal transactions, or apply and get a loan on his behalf, he added.

Essentially, scams can victimize anybody. So incase a correspondence appears dubious, unbelievably true, requests for personal information, alternatively can't be validated via a formal source, it's more chanced for being a scam that must get reported.

In the meantime, anyone doubting he has been victimized with an ATO e-mail scam must dial for the ATO helpline by noting the phone-number provided on the ATO's authorized Internet site. Besides, the scam e-mail must be sent ditto at the 'report fraud' id of ATO, D'Ascenzo concluded.

Related article: AT&T Website Faces Hackers’ Axe

» SPAMfighter News - 7/5/2012