Last week we had a call from a client saying there had been a call from the tax office to pay an amount due to the ATO.   That's not so unusual, but the message he received was indistinct; heavy accent, garbled and contradictory, but left a phone number and name.   He was suspicious, and so are we.

There are so many scams built around the ATO that the ATO now puts warnings on its website.   We've even heard of bogus calls from Centrelink and state revenue authorities.

Sometimes it's money but it can also be about stealing your identity; misusing personal information for tax evasion, customs or GST fraud, even superannuation and welfare fraud.

The scammers can be quite cunning; official sounding phone calls, even emails containing ATO imagery and the names and signatures of real ATO staff.

The typical stories are:

- A call to say tax has been overpaid and a refund is due, perhaps requiring payment of a fee to cover processing costs which can be paid from your bank account or credit card, or if you just provide the number they'll put the net amount into your account.

- An email to say a small debt is overdue, and pay immediately to the nominated account or action will be taken.

- Threats of prosecution or arrest if the debt is not paid immediately by quoting your credit card over the phone.

The ATO does sometimes send emails and SMS messages but usually about new services.   However, it will never ask for personal or financial information, and refunds or collections are not handled this way either.

If you receive any contact from the ATO requiring money or personal information, ask for their name and contact number and details of the refund or money owing, like the amount and what it is for.   Preferably, call us so we can check for you in the ATO's records, or call the ATO on 1800 060 062 (this is a genuine number!)