ATO issues warning about latest scam

The Australian Tax Office has issued a warning about a new scam that’s been reported 7000 times.

It starts with a scammer leaving a message on your answering machine, pretending they’re the ATO.

When you return the call, they threaten you by suggesting they’ve got a warrant for an arrest and suggest you pass on your tax agent’s information.

They then hook up a three-way call where another scammer impersonates a staff member from your tax agent, who agrees you have a debt to pay.

Nearly $200,000 has been taken already, with 1600 people also handing over personal details and financial information which could be sold on the black market.

“It’s very hard to get your money back,” Kath Anderson from the ATO told Neil Mitchell.

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