Victims of the scam often receive an official-sounding phone message from a person pretending to be from the ATO.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are convinced that the alleged tax debt is real and they are cowed by the threats and intimidation in relation to being arrested,\u201d Mr Addison told Leon Byner on FIVEAA.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo as a result, they\u2019re forwarding money where they\u2019re told.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Addison explained how to spot the scam.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe caller will often get aggressive if the person resists,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf somebody is threating you with arrest, or they become aggressive down the phone, it is not the Australian Taxation Office or any other official government caller.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey simply don\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Addison said people should be wary of anyone asking for personal information over the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they ask for money to be sent or personal details or personal banking details, confirmation of passwords or pin codes over the phone, it\u2019s a scam.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not give that information. People should be very cautious.\u201d<\/p>\n
He advised listeners to call back anyone asking for sensitive information.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re speaking to a person take their name, call the organisation back having sourced their number from an independent source, and speak to them about it.\u201d<\/p>\n