NSW Police have received many reports about the recent phone scam.
POLICE have issued a warning about phone scammers coaxing people into buying gift cards.
Multiple reports have been made to NSW Police about callers claiming to be from either the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or Telstra.
The caller claims there is an outstanding bill or debt and tells the victim to buy gift cards. These details are then given to the caller to pay the "bill" over the phone.
Police warned people to be wary of any requests for payment and are urging them not to transfer any money or provide sensitive information made over the phone.
The ATO will never:
- threaten you with immediate arrest
- ask you to pay money to receive a refund or payment from us
- ask you to pay a debt via iTunes vouchers, or pre-paid credit card or store gift cards
- ask you to provide personal information, such as your tax file number (TFN) or credit card number, via email or SMS
- ask you to pay money into a personal bank account
- direct you to download files from the internet, or open attachments in unsolicited emails.
Scams can be reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch at https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/
