ATO warning re scams – “what we never do”

The ATO has again encouraged businesses and individuals to brush up on their knowledge of tax and superannuation scams – and that they know what to look out for. In this regard, the ATO states that here are a few things it never does:

• Send you a link in an email or text asking you to log in to our online services. Scammers use this tactic to harvest your information.
• Ask for your personal identifying information, such as your TFN or bank account details, on social media. To make sure you’re interacting with verified ATO accounts, look for the blue verified tick on Facebook and Twitter, and a high follower count on LinkedIn. 
• Request payments through unusual methods, such as gift cards, crypto assets or cardless cash.
• Threaten you with immediate arrest. If this happens, report the incident to us.

The ATO also says that businesses and individual should review the ATO tips on keeping your business information secure.