It’s that time of year again, the time when tax scams are rife and it’s important to be on your guard. At the stations within the Lachlan Local Area Command, we’ve received a number of enquiries from members of the community about people being contacted by phone. The caller states they are from the tax office, that the person owes money and if they do not pay it immediately, a warrant will be signed for their arrest.
The ATO does not operate like this, nor are warrants ‘signed’ in this way (except maybe in the movies). “We often see this type of scam pop up at this time of year,” said Senior Constable Daniel Greef, Crime Prevention Officer at the Lachlan Local Area Command. “We all need to remain vigilant when taking phone calls as scammers have a variety of methods they use. It doesn’t mean we should be scared, we all just need to be cautious and aware to recognise scams.”
If you receive a call from someone claiming they have an arrest warrant and demand you pay a fee, hang up and do not respond. If you have any concerns about the identity of any caller that claims to be from a government department, contact the body directly.
Do not give personal information to anyone on the phone, unless you made the call and the phone number is from a trusted source. For more information on scams, please check the Scamwatch website: www.scamwatch.gov.au
By Daniel Greef
Senior Constable
Crime Prevention Officer