Beware of Tax Scams

ATO impersonation scams have become sophisticated, making it crucial to stay vigilant. One of the most effective ways to keep yourself safe is to Stop, Check and Protect. Scammers often create a sense of urgency, hoping you'll act without thinking. By taking a moment to check the legitimacy of the communication, you can avoid situations that could lead to a financial loss.

If you aren’t sure whether something is legitimate, start by checking contact details. Look up the contact information for the organisation and reach out to them directly via details you’ve sourced yourself.

Next, look for red flags in the message. Be cautious of messages that:

•    contain a hyperlink
•    create a sense of urgency or fear
•    ask for personal information or payments
•    contain spelling or grammar errors
•    come from unofficial email addresses or phone numbers. Scammers use legitimate looking email addresses, so if you aren’t sure, always double check.

Finally, cross-check any information mentioned in the message, such as a tax debt, owed refund, or a problem with your account, through official sources. Always access the ATO online services by typing the URL in a browser or via the ATO website.

The ATO, Centrelink, banks and financial institutions will never send unsolicited emails with hyperlinks or ask for personal information or verification of personal details via email or SMS for any reason, including tax returns. If you suspect the authenticity of an email from the ATO, call the ATO or your tax agent directly. Do not click on any link on the email or call a phone number provided by the email. To help protect your personal information, use your Digital ID, such as myID and set to the highest security level you can achieve to access ATO online services.

By stopping and checking the authenticity of messages, calls and emails you can protect yourself and others from impersonation scams.

If you think a phone call, SMS, voicemail, email, or interaction on social media claiming to be from the ATO is not genuine, do not engage with it.

You should either:

•    go to Verify or report a scam to see how to spot and report a scam, or
•    if you have divulged information or paid a scammer money, phone us on 1800 008 540.

For more information on staying scam safe, visit the Scamwatch website.