Australian Tax Office probed 150 staff over social media refund scam

One hundred and fifty people who worked for the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have been investigated – and some prosecuted – for participating in a tax refund scam promoted on Facebook and TikTok. The extent of the scam was revealed on Monday in an audit of the ATO's management and oversight of fraud control arrangements …

[Rikki Tikki]

I am in no way condoning fraud, and of course any people claiming fraudulent GST refunds should be penalised (and if possible more severe punishments for the scheme's promoters)

But, on my reading of articles about this, it appears that many of the people claiming the refunds may have been people doing it tough during the pandemic (and possibly not having good financial advice/knowledge). Of course, their behaviour was clearly illegal, and therefore much easier for the ATO to penalise, rather than going after those who can afford smart accountants/lawyers to help them operate the grey area between avoidance and evasion.

[MiguelC]

Re: "The scam promoted in online ads detailed a means of securing a loan from the ATO"

So some might not understand they were committing fraud?

And how were the scammers making money from these people?

I find the article lacking in details.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "The scam promoted in online ads detailed a means of securing a loan from the ATO"

It was promoted on Tik Tok as a way to get free money from the ATO, it was clearly fraud, and anyone who participated themselves would realise that, given the declarations you make when submitting a BAS.

The scam on other people part came from obtaining personal details from others then setting up ABNs on their behalf or without them knowing, and conducting the fraud that way. Outside of identity theft, it's been a bit vague how or why people would hand over details to people then running the fraud. Maybe they were promised a kickback?