Spotting Scam Phone Calls

Scam phone messages claiming to be from the ATO are one of the latest hoaxes doing the rounds, in an attempt to gather peoples’ personal details.

A Hope 103.2 staff member recently received the above voice message, telling him in a robot-like voice to “leave your work aside and dial the ATO tax crime division”.

The message went on to say, “if you fail to return the call, or in case if I don’t hear from your attorney either, then the only thing which I can do is wish you good luck as the situation unfolds on you.”

While this message, in particular, was so obviously fake that it made us laugh, others are less obvious.

If you receive a phone call or email claiming to be from the ATO or any other organisation asking for money or personal details, the best step to take is check it out on an official website.

The Australia government’s “Scamwatch” website is a great first port of call, and the ATO website also has a page of information on how to spot a scam email.