Scammers take advantage of tax time by impersonating the ATO through fake emails and messages, hoping you’ll respond quickly without verifying if they are genuine. ATO email impersonation scams alone are up 300% from this time last year.
Scammers know you’re busy, often distracted, and want you to respond quickly without verifying who is contacting you. They are trying to trick you into handing over personal information so they can steal your identity and commit fraud in your name.
There are 3 simple steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Stop: Never share your myGov sign in details, and only share personal information such as your Tax File Number (TFN) or bank account details if you trust the person and they genuinely require them. If in doubt, don’t provide anything.
- Check: Take a moment to check. Ask yourself if it could it be fake? Is it really the ATO? If a link or QR code is directing you to provide information or to log into an online portal don’t click on it.
- Protect: If something doesn’t feel right or you notice unusual activity, act quickly.
Remember:
- The ATO may send you an SMS or email asking you to contact them but will never send an unsolicited message with a link asking you to return personal information or log into online services.
- The ATO does have Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn accounts, but they will never use these platforms to ask you to provide personal information, documentation or payments.
Recovering from identity theft can be a stressful and complicated process. If something feels off, don’t engage with it – visit verify or report a scam on the ATO website or call the ATO on 1800 008 540 for confirmation.
To learn more visit how to stay scam safe and scam alerts.
How we can help:
Need support with your ATO obligations? Talk to us today about maximising your outcomes and reducing your risk.
