ATO Warns About iTunes Scammers
The ATO is reminding the public to be alert to scammers impersonating the ATO demanding iTunes gift cards as a form of tax debt payment
Of the 8692 phone scam reports the ATO received in April 2016 in relation to the fake ATO tax debt scam, 58 reports mentioned the scammer demanding payment by iTunes (and apparently 26 people unfortunately payed $174,830 to fraudsters!)
Importantly, the scammers don’t need the actual physical card; they just need the gift card number, which they get victims to read over the phone.
The ATO states: “We will never request the payment of a tax debt via gift or pre-paid cards such as iTunes and Visa cards. Nor will we ask for direct credit to be paid to a personal bank account.
“And if the person calling you is rude and aggressive, threatening police or legal action if you don’t do something immediately – it’s not the ATO”.
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If you realize that now is the time to get your accounts in order, we invite you to call Hart Partners today on Phone (03)9600 3220 Mobile: 0413 222 922 Fax (03) 9376 3507 or email us paula@www.hartpartners.com.au.
We can help you to meet your obligations to the Australian Tax Office, while at the same time ensuring that you claim every deduction to which you are entitled.
| Please Note:
Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances. |