Residents are being urged to stay vigilant this tax season as scams begin to circulate Wagga.
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Wagga lady Bec Horseman was the target of a telephone scam recently, but did not fall victim.
"It was an automated message I received over the phone, a male voice with a British accent saying something about being from the ATO and that there was a discrepancy or problem," she said.
"This was before tax time on June 14, and I hung up straight away because I knew the ATO wouldn't do that."
Ms Horseman said the call registered as being from Taree, and told other residents to look out for the number 6500 4684.
Wagga Neighbourhood Watch president Wayne Deaner said the key to avoiding a scam is to skeptical at first.
"A lot of people get calls from someone claiming to be from the Australian Tax Office around this time of year, but the thing is, the ATO doesn't do that, you don't get calls from them generally," he said.
Mr Deaner suggested looking out for anyone seeking your details.
"Anybody that asks you for your personal information because they can't provide it aren't legitimate," he said.
"Ask them to recite your personal data, because if they have that, they're not scammers."
When it comes to written scams, the key is in the details according to Mr Deaner.
"Always double check the address a letter came from, and remember emails can be redirected to appear more legitimate," he said.
"Keep and eye out for tiny spelling mistakes or a dot where it shouldn't be, and that can give the giveaway."
Wagga Neighbourhood Watch member Matt Nolte said scammers have a number of tactics up their sleeves.
"At the moment scammers have been cloning professional telephone numbers so people think it's recognisable and that it must be a real call," he said.
"As for letters in the post, legitimate ones will usually have a return slip with correct addresses for the tax office."
ATO Assistant Commissioner Gavin Siebert said while much of the community advice was helpful, there are other factors to note of the department's process.
"We are now seeing thousands of Australians missing a call from a scammer, returning the call based on the number on caller ID and speaking to legitimate members of the ATO, but our calls do not show a number on caller ID nor do we use pre-recorded messages," he said.
The ATO said they regularly make calls to taxpayers, or send emails and SMS, but their are tell-tale signs that indicate the legitimacy of the contact made. The ATO will not:
- send you an email or SMS asking you to click on a link directing you to a login page
- use aggressive or rude behaviour, or threaten you with immediate arrest, jail or deportation
- request payment of a debt via iTunes or Google Play cards, pre-paid Visa cards, cryptocurrency or direct credit to a personal bank account
- request a fee in order to release a refund owed to you.
Mr Deaner urged the community to work together to out-smart scammers.
"If you see someone purchasing a lot of gift cards, just check they know what they are doing, or if you notice a new tactic scammers are using, let people know, we need to look out for each other," he said.