Ask your Aspen advisor:
“How do I know if a call from the ATO is real, and what is the quickest way to check before I say anything?”
Scam calls pretending to be from the ATO are getting more convincing every year. They create pressure, sound official and often catch people when they are busy, distracted, or already stressed.
The ATO’s new verify call feature is one of the most practical anti-scam tools it has introduced in years. It lets you check, in real time, whether the person calling you is genuinely from the ATO.
How it works
It is refreshingly simple:
- Open the ATO app
- Tap verify call
- Wait for confirmation
If there is no confirmation, hang up. It is almost certainly a scam.
Why this matters
Scam calls work because they create urgency. They tell people:
- Pay now
- Confirm your details
- Your TFN has been compromised
- Your refund is at risk
The verify call feature strips out that panic. You can check first, then respond calmly.
The source material notes that in July 2025 alone, the ATO received nearly 7,500 impersonation scam reports, and scam activity always ramps up between April and July.
What else should you do
A few easy steps make this even stronger:
- Download or update the ATO app
- Register your device
- Check that your myID is set to Strong
- And practise using the verify call feature once before tax time gets busy
Final thought
This is one of those rare government tools that is genuinely simple and genuinely useful.
If you deal with the ATO personally or through your business, it is well worth setting this up now so you are not trying to work it out in the middle of a dodgy phone call later.
