ATO scams - a case study
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Introduction
Threat-based impersonation scams are on the rise. Many organisations, such as the ATO are especially vulnerable to impersonation scams. This activity uses ATO scams as a case study to demonstrate the risk that impersonation scams pose to students’ identity and financial security and what they might do to prevent becoming victims of impersonation scams.
This activity contributes to the following outcomes.
A student:
- applies consumer, financial, economic, business, legal, political and employment concepts and terminology in a variety of contexts COM5-1
- analyses the rights and responsibilities of individuals in a range of consumer, financial, economic, business, legal, political and employment contexts COM5-2
- evaluates options for solving problems and issues COM5-5
- explains information using a variety of forms COM5-8
- works independently and collaboratively to meet individual and collective goals within specified timeframes COM5-9
Related Stage 4 outcomes: COM4-1, COM4-2, COM4-5, COM4-6, COM4-8, COM4-9
Related Life Skills outcomes: COMLS-5, COMLS-12, COMLS-13
Content descriptions
Core 1: Consumer and Financial Decisions
Current issues
Students:
- investigate a current issue that influences the decisions consumers make, for example:
- various types of scams, for example relating to online shopping, banking and identity theft.
Teacher resources
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Be aware of what you share
Student learning resources
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Be aware of what you share
ATO scams
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Suggested activity sequence
This sequence is intended as a framework to be modified and adapted by teachers to suit the needs of a class group. The activity was written for students in Stage 5, however it can be modified to suit the needs of Stage 4 students and Life skills students. If you assign this activity to a class, your students will be assigned all student resources on their 'My learning' page. You can also hand-pick the resources students are assigned by selecting individual resources when you add a work item to a class in 'My classes'.
- Play: Be aware of what you share. This video is about how to identify illegitimate requests for information. As the video is being played, students complete the video viewing guide.
- Brainstorm a list of government departments, organisations or corporations that have legitimacy and people are likely to trust. Examples include Centrelink, ATO and banks.
- Discuss why organisations like these are prone to impersonation scams.
- Students complete part 1 and 2 of the worksheet.
- Invite students to identify other impersonation scams they have heard about.
- Conduct a class discussion on impersonation scams. Possible discussion points and responses include the following.
- What information could a scammer impersonating the ATO obtain from a phone call with a victim? Examples include name, TFN, driver’s licence details, Medicare number, mobile phone number, online banking details.
- What steps could you take to prevent being scammed by people impersonating trusted organisations such as the ATO?
- What are some of the short-and long-term personal consequences of falling victim to a scam or providing personal identifying information? For example:
- financial loss
- scammers can take out loans in your name which may impact your credit rating, limiting your ability to gain a credit card, personal loan or mortgage
- scammers can start fraudulent businesses in your name impacting your ability to be a business owner in the future
- emotional trauma
- impacts on your ability to gain access to government services or welfare
- use of sensitive private information or images to blackmail or coerce you
- theft of your superannuation.
- Who should you give your personal information to and in what circumstances? For example, you can give your details including your TFN to your employer but only once you have commenced work and only on the legitimate TFN declaration form. Never quote your TFN or personal information like driver’s licence in a job application.
- Students complete part 3 of the worksheet.
- Invite students to share their information texts with the class.