Scammers are always coming up with new ways to trick people into giving up their personal details or cash. The key is keeping yourself up to date with all the latest tricks they’re using to get the better of you. So, here are the top 3 phone scams to listen out for.
Australian Taxation Office
The ATO put out a warning about this scam. Scammers are using a caller ID spoof so that it looks as though the call is coming directly from the ATO. This leaves you believing the call is legitimate. They tell you that you’ve been evading your taxes and if you don’t make an immediate payment you will be arrested. Then, they ask you to put the payment on a gift card, a pre-paid credit card or a wire transfer.
Tax Fraud
This is another one that the ATO is being used for. This time, though, it’s a text message. The sender is ATO Refund and they are texting to alert you to a waiting tax refund. All you need to do to claim your big refund is to follow the provided link, and use your phone number to log in. They even provide you with a PIN number to use as your password. When you get to the site you are asked to provide your credit card information, including your security code, and your tax file number. Instead of receiving a tax refund, you are giving away your card details.
Overseas Numbers
This is one that targets your mobile phone, but the calls come from an overseas number. They bombard your phone with calls in hopes that you will return the call. That is how they get your money. The missed calls are created by hanging up as soon as the phone rings once. Then, when you phone back they chat with you or put you on hold. The entire point of the exercise is to keep you on the phone. It’s a premium number that can cost you a small fortune.
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