Be on the lookout for Australian Taxation Office (ATO) themed scam emails, SMS and phone calls.
Scammers will pose as organisations in an attempt to trick or confuse you into replying and revealing information such as bank account details, credit card numbers, tax file numbers and other private information.
The ATO will sometimes contact you by phone, email, SMS and post. If you're not sure whether it's really the ATO, do not reply. You should phone the ATO on 1800 008 540 to check.
Consider the following advice:
- No official organisation would ever ask for your sensitive information via an email or SMS.
- Be aware of what you share - don’t give out details such as your tax file number (TFN), date of birth, credit card or bank details unless you have confirmed the source and the need for the information.
- Know your tax affairs - log in to myGov at any time or contact the ATO.
- Know legitimate ways to make payments - scammers may use scare tactics to trick you into paying money by pre-paid gift cards or sending money to non-ATO bank accounts. You can check methods of payment on the ATO website.
- Ensure your passwords are strong and use a password manager.
- Avoid using the same passwords for multiple websites.
- If you are unsure about an email or any form of communication regarding taxes, email or ring the ATO directly using an email address or number found on their official website - https://www.ato.gov.au.
- The safest way to handle financial matters is through the official website of the organisation.
For more information visit the ATO scams alert website and the Stay Smart Online website.
