Scammers threatening jail time and deportation have stolen more than $800,000 in the last month from unsuspecting Aussies.

The scammers pretend to represent the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in order to frighten people into handing over money they never owed.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson tells Ben Fordham “there are some tell-tale signs” it isn’t the Tax Office.

“They use aggressive and rude behaviour, they tell you that you’ve got a debt that you most likely didn’t know you had and they’ll threaten you with immediate arrest.”

Commissioner Anderson says the thieves tend to request payment through “unusual means” such as iTunes gift cards, prepaid cards or deposits into personal bank accounts.

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview