Scammers use phone calls, letters, text messages, emails and bogus websites to try to obtain personal information. Many of the scams use the Australian Taxation Office logo.

Mr Stowe advised the best way to avoid falling victim to scams is to approach any unsolicited contact with extreme caution.

“Legitimate banks and financial institutions will not email you asking for personal information, so if you receive such an email you can bet you’re the target of scammers,” he said. “If you receive a suspicious phone call, tell them you will call back on a number listed in the phonebook. If you believe you have been targeted by scammers you should contact your bank or financial institution and check your bank statements.

“Contact organisations directly by telephone to confirm an email’s authenticity or go directly to the official website and look for information there. Don’t click on web links in emails because they can take you to elaborate hoax sites that look legitimate.”

If you think you have been the victim of a tax scam, contact the Australian Tax Office. Call 13 28 61 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday). You can also report suspected email scams to the Australian Taxation Office by forwarding the email to reportemailfraud@ato.gov.au. Further information about how to protect yourself from tax scams can be found at www.ato.gov.au/onlinesecurity.

Fair Trading advice to avoid being scammed:

• Don’t respond to offers, deals or requests for your personal details. Stop. Take time to independently check the request or offer.
• Never send money or give credit card, account or other personal details to anyone who makes unsolicited offers or requests for your information.
• Don’t rely on glowing testimonials: find solid evidence from independent sources (not those provided with the offer).
• Never respond to out of the blue requests for your personal details.
• Always type in the address of the website of a bank, business or authority you are interested in to ensure you are logging onto the genuine website.
• Don’t open unsolicited emails.
• Never click on a link provided in an unsolicited email as it will probably lead to a fake website designed to trick you into providing personal details.
• Never use phone numbers provided with unsolicited requests or offers because they could connect you to fakes who will try to trap you with lies.
• Don’t reply to unsolicited text messages from numbers you don’t recognise.
• Always look up phone numbers in an independent directory when you wish to check if a request or offer is genuine.
• Don’t dial a 0055 or 1900 number unless you are sure you know how much you will be charged.

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