The end of financial year traditionally means tax time. It’s also a busy time for scammers.
The ACMA is warning people to be on the lookout for tax-themed scam emails, SMS and calls over the coming months, looking to take advantage of Australians who are submitting tax returns or waiting for the outcome of an assessment.
What to look out for
Common tax scams include robo-calls or calls from people pretending to be from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) or another government department. These callers ask for urgent payment of a tax debt or say they need to fix personal information to process your tax refund.
People may also be targeted by email or texts claiming to be from the ATO and MyGov, including links to update or fix your personal information to receive a fake refund.
How to protect yourself
If you are unsure if a call or message is genuine – stop and check. Don’t rush to act.
- Do not give your personal information or make payments to callers over the phone.
- Do not click on any links in emails or texts. These may be phishing scams designed to steal your personal or financial details.
- Do not rely on contact information given by callers or in emails and texts. Check if a call or message is genuine by contacting the business using details you confirm yourself – for example, on an official website, a bill or a secure app.
Remember, the ATO and myGov will never send you a text message or email with a link to access online services. If the message contains a link to login to what looks like these services, it’s probably a scam.
