Threats and extortion (fines and penalties)

Tax debt (ATO)

At the end of each financial year, there's a noticeable rise in scams involving the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). These scams often come in prerecorded and text messages, falsely claiming that you have unpaid tax debts. It's crucial to spot and avoid falling victim to these scams.

Unpaid fines

These scams often come via SMS text message or prerecorded phone messages, falsely claiming that you have unpaid fines. It's crucial you do not provide your credit card details to cold callers or voicemail services NSW Government will never ask you to make a payment via a link in a SMS text message. If you are unsure if a NSW Revenue fine is valid, please conduct your own investigation and get in touch with Service NSW.

Chinese Authority Scams

ID Support NSW has seen a recent uptick in Chinese authority scams.

Scammers are impersonating Chinese police, government or military officials, or a courier service to extort money from the victim. 

The scammers may tell you:

• Your personal details are known or compromised. 
• A parcel addressed to you, containing compromised documents, has been intercepted. 
• You have been implicated in a crime and you may be charged or there is arrest warrant for you or your family.
• They may produce apparent Chinese authority documents including an arrest warrant. 
• To go to a website claiming to be a Chinese authority to obtain a phone number. 

The scammers will demand money to stop these fake criminal charges. They may also threaten you with the deportation of yourself or your family. This is always a lie.

DO NOT send any money and HANG up the call immediately.
DO NOT reveal any PERSONAL information.

Collect as much information and data about the scammer as possible and report any suspicious scam or behaviour to your local Police or report at www.cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover or Police Assistance Line 131 444.

To report a scam or get further information on this type of scam, visit Scamwatch.