Alert on scammers posing as tax officers

SCAMMERS impersonating government agencies are sharpening their methods to steal money and information from consumers.

A fresh warning has come from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about a surge in National Broadband Network impersonators, and follows similar warnings about scammers claiming to be from the Australian Taxation Office and Centrelink.

ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said the NBN scammers were signing up victims to fake accounts and often demanding payments using iTunes gift cards. Others were impersonating NBN staff to gain remote access to people’s computers, or requesting personal details as part of a phony NBN set-up.

“NBN will never call you remotely to ‘fix’ a problem with your computer, or to request personal information like your Medicare number or your bank account numbers,”

Ms Rickard said.

“NBN is a wholesaler, meaning they don’t sell direct to the public. If you get an unsolicited call like this, it’s a big red flag that you’re dealing with a scammer.”

The ACCC says its scamwatch.gov.au service has received 316 complaints this year about NBN scammers, with $28,000 reported lost.

The ATO also has warned people to beware that scammers impersonating its officers are becoming more sophisticated.

ATO assistant commissioner Kath Anderson said reports of tax scams rose 23 per cent in July, after rising 26 per cent in June.

Ms Anderson said fraudsters were using personal information to file fake tax returns.

People concerned about an ATO contact can call 1800 008 540, while those worried that their tax file number might be stolen should call 1800 467 033.