We're here, Monday to Friday from 9:00am - 5:00pm to help you over the phone.
What does a tax scam look like?
You may receive a phone call, text message or e-mail claiming to be from a government agency, such as the ATO, Centrelink or MyGov.
The scammer will use tactics such as claiming you have an outstanding tax debt, a suspended TFN, or a compromised account and demand the issue be resolved.
To create a sense of urgency and panic, the scammer will often pressure you to act quickly, threatening hefty fines or even imprisonment if you do not act immediately.
The scammer may demand you pay via bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift card purchases. Alternatively, they might encourage you to click a link to provide your personal information, sometimes claiming that you need to “update your account details” or “reset your password”.
Protect yourself
Hang up.
Agencies such as the ATO typically will not call you on the phone and demand immediate payment.
Delete messages and e-mails demanding payment or personal information or asking you to click a link.
Do not respond or click any links these messages may contain.
Do not provide any personal information.
Verify the call
Is the message or phone call you received legitimate? If you’re not sure, it’s worth finding out. Otherwise, you risk ignoring a real problem.
Never respond directly to a phone number or e-mail provided in a suspicious message – otherwise, you may just be calling a potential scammer straight back.
Always verify contact details independently, by visiting the agency or organisation's official website to confirm their phone number.
What to do next?
Contact us as soon as possible if you are concerned you may have disclosed your banking information to a scammer.
Verify or report a scam to the Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au). This page also contains precise information about how the ATO will legitimately contact you, as well as other information to help you identify scams.
Learn more about scams, fraud and cybersecurity and keep up to date with the following government resources via Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and the Australian Cyber Security Centre (cyber.gov.au).
Talk about it! Raise awareness of scams with your friends and family, mainly if you think they may be vulnerable. You might just save them from becoming another victim.
Keep up-to-date with the latest blogs from GMCU.
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At GMCU, we believe banking should help people, communities and regions thrive. We're focused on providing great products, genuine service and support that helps members achieve their financial goals. With local people, local decision-making and a commitment to the communities we serve, we're proud to be part of the region's future.
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