Scamming, now a days, has taken an entirely diverse form, becoming solely a swindling attempt to grab your hard earned money.
Starting from a scamming incident happened in February 2010 in which Australian taxation Office had become a target of a money scam, in which people were tricked to claim their tax refunds online; we’ll take you to another extended version of this scamming attack later in this article.
First, take up the incident that happened in February 2010. It all started with emails sent from what they appeared to be legitimate ATO email addresses, offering something that almost every taxpaying individual could never say NO to.
If you are a regular taxpayer, how would you respond to an enticing tax refund offer, and that too without going through too much hassles and troubles of getting your money back from the Government?
My guess is that you will rush to that offer. But then, obviously, who would not? It’s a common human psyche! And that’s where you get caught without an umbrella.
Designed smartly, after examining and observing general human behavior and responses towards enticing and can’t-stop-to-rush-at offers, these scamming attacks are exclusively made to place the cheese in the conniving trap and to make sure you are fully invoked to fall for the intended trap. You get your hands on the cheese, and you are trapped!!
Back to the incident: So, the emails, which were evidently the fake emails, contained links that redirected the user to quite an appealing phishing page. Apparently, it looks like the usual scamming style but the real game starts when the appealing phishing page asks the user for his credit card information.
We’re calling it a real game because the page you get directed to looks so genuine that any naive or quickly trusting internet user can have zero clues over being hoodwinked by a scamming attack. He would, with an excitement of getting its money refunded and an innocence of trusting the Australian government’s internet filtering plan thrust all his information in just one glance over the phishing page.
And so, instead of getting his money refunded, he’ll be handing over all his money to the greedy bad internet guys. Sadly, once he gives his information to the scammers, there is no way he can get his money back from these guys, unless, he files charges against them. This is something nobody gets in the trouble for, as it takes time and more of the money he has been left with.
So, what’s the solution? What’s the point of writing this article?
Apart from regularly mentoring and advising you about latest threats and remedies available to fend them off, what we want you to strictly abide by is the rule of not sharing your personal and identification information over internet with any one, unless the law requires it.
Find out why ‘The story of Mike the malicious employee‘ is trending
Does ATO Send Text Messages About Tax Return?
No, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) does not send text messages about tax returns. You may receive text messages from the ATO about other matters such as payment reminders, but not about tax returns. If you receive a text message claiming to be from the ATO about tax returns, it is likely to be a scam.
Refund Text Message Claimed To Be From ATO
If you receive a text message claiming to be from the ATO about a tax refund, it is likely to be a scam. It is important to be aware of any suspicious activity and to always verify the source of the message.
Verified ATO Letters
Yes, the ATO does send letters. These letters can be about a variety of topics, such as payment reminders, requests for information, and other matters. It is important to always verify the source of any letters you receive from the ATO.
IRS Refund Scam
Yes, there is an IRS refund scam. This scam involves criminals sending out emails, text messages, or other types of communication that claim to be from the IRS and offer a tax refund.
Refund From IRS
The IRS may send you a refund if you have overpaid your taxes or if you are eligible for certain tax credits. where as It is pertinent to mention that you should always verify the source of any correspondence receive from the IRS to ensure it is legitimate.
Texting Back To A Scammer
If you text a scammer back, they may use the information you provide to try to steal your identity or money. It is best to avoid responding to any suspicious messages or calls and to report any suspicious activity to the IRS or your local law enforcement agency.
Check If Refund Cheque Is Real
You can tell if a refund cheque is real by verifying that it was issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The cheque should have the IRS logo and address on it, as well as the taxpayer’s name and address. You should also check the cheque number to make sure it matches the number on your return. If you have any doubts, you can contact the IRS directly to verify the authenticity of the check.
Refund Cheque Can Be A Scam
Yes, a refund cheque can be a scam. Scammers often send fake refund cheque with the intention of stealing personal information or money. If you receive a cheque that looks suspicious, contact the issuing agency or financial institution before cashing it. You can also contact your local law enforcement agency to report the scam.
What To Do If I Get Scammed Via Text?
If you have been scammed via text, you should contact your local law enforcement agency to report the scam. You should also contact your bank or credit card company to inform them of the scam and to cancel any payments that may have been made. Additionally, you should contact your mobile phone provider to see if they can help block any further contact from the scammer.
Appearance Of Fake Tax Refund Cheque
Fake tax refund checks may look similar to real tax refund checks, but may have slight differences. For example, the check may have an incorrect address or the amount of the check may be incorrect. Additionally, the check may be from a company or entity that is not associated with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If you receive a check that you believe to be fake, you should contact the IRS for assistance.
Can ATO Track Your Bank Account?
Yes, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can track your bank account. The ATO has the ability to access your bank account records and check for any discrepancies in your tax returns. This is done through the use of data-matching programs and other methods. If you have any discrepancies, the ATO may contact you for further information.
Can ATO Put You In Jail?
No, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) cannot put you in jail. The ATO is an administrative body and does not have the power to arrest or imprison anyone. If you are found to have committed a criminal offence, you may be prosecuted by the relevant law enforcement agency and be liable to a penalty or imprisonment.
Most Common Tax Frauds
The most common tax frauds include:
• Failing to declare income or understating income
• Claiming false deductions
• Misusing business expenses
• Making false statements on tax returns
• Failing to pay taxes due
• Failing to file a tax return
• Evading payment of taxes owed
• Claiming ineligible credits or refunds
• Making false statements to the ATO.
Identify Tax Scams
Tax scams usually involve someone asking for personal or financial information in order to gain access to your funds. They may also offer to help you with your taxes for a fee. Be wary of any offers that sound too good to be true and always verify the source before providing any information. Common red flags include requests for payment via wire transfer, requests for personal information such as Social Security numbers, and requests to provide bank account information.