Recent incidents where scammers claim to work for South Australia Police has prompted a fresh warning from police to not be taken in by such tactics.
In a statement, SA Police said the scam caller claims to be a police officer and tells the victim that there has been an identity theft and the Australian Taxation Office will be calling them within a few minutes.
“The scammer then calls the victim claiming to be working for the ATO and requests their personal details,” said SA Police.
“Scammers are using technology to make it look like the calls originate from a police station by manipulating the caller identification.
“If you get a call like this, hang up and don’t provide any info. SAPOL do not make calls on behalf of the ATO.”
SA Police say that while scammers can change the caller ID they use, they do not have access to actual phone number they are purporting to have called from.
“This means that if you were to ring back the phone number, it would actually go the intended recipient, not the scammers.”
SA Police warned, “Never give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and if in doubt, hang up the phone and call the person back on a known, reputable number.”
Warn your family and friends to stay alert and learn more visit: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Identity-security/Scam-alerts/ or via www.scamwatch.gov.au
For details and advice about other scams affecting South Australians, visit www.police.sa.gov.au/scams
