ATO Random Payment

LAuras on 01/08/2017 - 23:26
Last edited 01/08/2017 - 23:31

Hi OzBargain,

I am after some advice on what I should do as I have received approx $4,000 direct deposited into my bank account by the ATO.

I have already claimed my tax return for the year, so I am not sure what this is for.

My first thought is to call the ATO and enquire about this?

Please feel free to share any similar stories and following events occurred or if you are able to advise what could have happened.

Thank you for your time.

Edit: Here is a link of screenshot for your reference: http://imgur.com/a/Xgvi8

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Comments

  • trustnoone on 01/08/2017 - 23:32

    Apparently I'll be getting a similar amount as my company has been paying HECS even though I haven't reached the threshold for the year. Wondering if its something similar for you?

  • airzone on 01/08/2017 - 23:37
    +11

    There's a scam going on at the moment. Best to call the ATO directly, and if the ATO call you first, expect they're the scammers.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 23:42

      I think that too.

      You get a call saying it's wrongly applied to your account, and to transfer the amount back.

      Regardless of whether you transfer the amount, the sum that was injected into your account is reversed.

      • Diji1 on 01/08/2017 - 23:50

        It seems ridiculous to me that scammers would randomly pay $4000 into someone's account to start off a scam.

        • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 23:58

          At my work place, there are many scams that involve me getting paid first. I have no idea how they do it but I have been warned by colleagues (and common sense) that the monies will be reversed even if it puts my account in arrears.

        • D C on 02/08/2017 - 00:01

          I steal $4000 from your credit card.

          Deposit that $4000 into @OP's account.

          Ring OP, "sorry dude we dun goofed" & tell him to buy $4000 of iTunes cards…

          At that point the chain is broken, so when the credit card company asks @OP for their $4000 back he winds up the $4000 out.

        • airzone on 02/08/2017 - 00:36
          +8

          The way it works is this: I submit a fake tax refund (using stolen identity documents) to be paid into your account. ATO oblige and pay the money. I then call you up pretending to be the ATO with the exact details of the payment for verification. I then threaten you with nasty stuff unless you pay that money back into the account I nominate.

        • Auras on 02/08/2017 - 00:46

          @airzone: Thanks for your input, that sounds about right. Should I be concerned about my safety and what's the best way to make sure this 'issue' goes away? - at least from my life as this is happening to people all over.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2017 - 09:34

          @Auras:
          Have you called the ATO?

        • Auras on 02/08/2017 - 14:09

          @Drew22: Not yet, I will if I can make time ASAP.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2017 - 14:58
          +3

          @Auras:
          It takes 10 minutes. Get off Ozbargain and call them.

          Absolutely no one here can help you beyond telling you to call the ATO.

        • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2017 - 16:14

          Yes to this.

  • Diji1 on 01/08/2017 - 23:51
    +5

    Call the ATO.

    I believe you are liable in any case for monies paid in error so don't spend it unless you can pay it back.

  • hm on 02/08/2017 - 00:10
    +1

    Interesting read

    http://amp.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/tax-return-f…

  • YadaYadaYada on 02/08/2017 - 00:11
    +13

    http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/lets-go-to-e…

    That's the current scam.

    • mskeggs on 02/08/2017 - 08:46
      +1

      You have to credit these scammers, it is very smart.
      You would figure that if they were just a bit more sophisticated, say by actually hiring some professional call centre staff to chase the money, they would have got away with a lot of cash.

      • plmko on 02/08/2017 - 10:49
        +1

        There was a Microsoft researcher some years back who hypothesised that scammers do this to filter out all but the most gullible of victims. So it is intentionally suspicious.

        • Findo on 02/08/2017 - 12:23

          Why? Is it their conscience working, or do they want complete idiots that won't know who to complain to afterwards?

        • plmko on 02/08/2017 - 12:29
          +2

          @niggard:

          Because if you painted a believable story, you'd have to deal with the slightly smarter people but still a little bit curious. Investment of time to convince this crowd is not viable when you've sent millions of spam Emails. Only getting a response from the gullible means you don't have to do much more convincing if they've already jumped the mental hurdle of Nigerian princes etc.

        • Findo on 02/08/2017 - 12:37

          @plmko: that's actually pretty clever. I wonder if psychologists ever advise scammers, they'd make a killing doing scam advisory services.

        • D C on 02/08/2017 - 17:37

          @niggard: As @plmko say, it's thought to filter out the smart ones.

          That's why the scam emails, the initial ones anyway, have bad spelling and grammar. They want many people to delete them, with only the gullible to respond.

          A bit like the GumTree buyers who give a long-winded story about why they want to purchase your item. "What a lovely person you are for doing all that, of course I'll send you my laptop… PayPal is fine…"

  • dasher86 on 02/08/2017 - 08:53
    -5

    Transfer all monies close the account.
    Call ATO. If it's not there's you're up.

  • bobbified on 02/08/2017 - 09:17
    +3

    If you've already submitted and received your tax refund for this year, it was likely based on the income/tax information you've input yourself.

    Around now is when lots of employers etc submit their PAYG information to the ATO. There might be a difference between the information you've input and the information received by the ATO from external sources that entitles you to a bigger refund.

    Or, it could be that scam that's been mentioned.

    Best to call up the ATO and check - or log into your MyGov account and have a look in there. It'll show you the amounts and what they relate to.

    • John Kimble on 02/08/2017 - 09:51
      +1

      My wife got some money she didn't expect too. She logged into mygov and it was for childcare.

  • undercut on 02/08/2017 - 10:08

    Family tax benefit?

  • Lando on 02/08/2017 - 10:58

    Buy a new watch.

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