The Assistant Treasurer, the Hon. Nick Sherry has issued a warning to Australians of a suspected door-to-door scam by people claiming to be consultants from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The alleged bogus consultants ask people to sign up to a fictional government program promising financial incentives, including a reduction in taxes.

In return for signing up, scammers will ask you for personal information such as credit card information or banking details.

Remember scammers can use your personal information to steal your money and identity. Don't give out personal information about your credit card, banking details or superannuation fund unless you can verify that you are giving it to a trusted source.

Visit SCAMwatch to learn how to protect yourself against identity theft, superannuation and and door-to-door scams.

Anyone approached about accessing or investing in superannuation should contact the ATO on 13 28 61 and report any suspicious activities.

You should also call the ATO if you are concerned about the legitimacy of callers or the identity of an ATO officer.

Anyone who has given personal information to an illegitimate source should immediately report it to their credit card provider, bank or superannuation fund.

Protect yourself

  • If someone comes to your door, ask to see their identification.
  • Never agree to anything without reading all the terms and conditions very carefully.
  • Don't agree to any offer involving a significant amount of money, time or commitment—seek independent advice first.
  • If you are interested in what the door-to-door person has to offer, take the time to find out more about their business and their offer.

Report

You can report this scam on the Report a scam page in SCAMwatch. Warn your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours about the scam.


More information

Explore SCAMwatch to find out more about these types of scams (often called phishing scams), and learn how you can protect yourself against scammers or to report a scam.

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Identity theft is a type of fraud that involves using someone else's identity to steal money or gain other benefits.