Here is how to avoid a tax time scam

  • 12 July 2024
  • by BG Private
  • 3-minute read

Tax return time is prime time for scammers! And, at this time of year, there is always an uptick in scammers taking advantage of Aussies doing their tax returns. Don’t fall victim!

Here are some of the suspicious communications to look out for:

  • An email claiming to be from your employer with a link to your income statement (they may call it ‘group certificate’). The link might be a virus or take you to a page that asks for your personal information, for example.
  • A fake phone call or robo-call from the ATO asking you to pay an overdue amount urgently
  • An email pretending to be the ATO asking for additional personal information so they can process your return faster
  • An email from the ATO stating that you have a refund and asking for your personal details so that they can process it
  • An SMS impersonating MyGov asking for your password or personal details
  • An email from MyGov that links to a fake MyGov login page that can be used to steal your information
  • An email or SMS claiming to have an urgent notification in your MyGov inbox with a fake link or QR code

Here are some of the things you can do to protect yourself:

  • Confirm that any emails from your employer regarding your income statement are from a valid email address
  • If in doubt, do not reply or click on any links purporting to be from the ATO
  • Go to my.gov.au directly – not via a link you get in an SMS or email
  • Confirm any tax payments with your Accountant or contact the ATO independently to verify the details
  • Make tax or HECS-HELP payments within the legitimate my.gov.au website
  • Never share your Tax File Number (TFN) over email or SMS with an unverified recipient
  • Never give your login details to anyone
  • Remember the ATO will never threaten you with immediate arrest, ask for a password, ask you to pay a fee in order to process your refund, or ask for personal information via a link in an email or SMS
  • Be vigilant on social media as scammers are now targeting people there as well, including creating fake ATO / MyGov ‘help’ pages to obtain your information
  • Read 23 more cyber security tips to help protect your money
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