How to spot a tax time scam and stay safe this EOFY

The end of the financial year is a time to be extra vigilant around scam risks. Last year, almost 20,000 scams were reported in the lead up to tax season, so it’s important that you know what to look out for. Here’s what you need to know about staying safe this tax time.

What is a tax time scam?

Tax time scams are generally impersonation scams that happen around the end of the financial year. People are primed to receive communications from the ATO, MyGov and their accountants, and are expecting to be notified of lodgements and potential refunds.

Scammers will impersonate the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) by contacting you via phone, email, SMS text message, or even social media. In these communications, they will try to access your personal information like your MyGov login credentials or bank card details.

How to spot a tax time scam

The most common red flag for tax time scams is any contact claiming to be from the ATO. You may receive calls, texts, emails or messages asking you to click a link to claim your tax refund, or threatening you to make payments or transfers quickly.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Any messages or emails claiming to be from the ATO that contain a link. The ATO has warned it does not send messages with links to log in to your MyGov account. Never click a link in a message claiming to be from the ATO.
• Inbound calls claiming to be from the ATO that are threatening, demanding, or that involve a prerecorded message. Scammers use urgency to try and get you to act quickly. They may threaten jail or prosecution if you do not make payments. The ATO will not contact you in this way.
• Any unusual activity in your MyGov account. Your account has a list of ‘account history’ that shows when you’ve logged in and any actions taken on the account. If you don’t recognise any of these activities, someone may have access to your account.
• Social media messages from ATO officials. New scam tactics involve impersonating ATO staff on social media. The ATO will never contact you on social media.
• Any request for your bank card details. Never enter your bank card details to receive a refund. If you have questions about your refund, log in to your MyGov account via the official website, and check on its status there. The ATO will never ask you to enter card details to receive your refund.

How to stay safe this tax time

Staying safe from tax time scams is all about being vigilant and knowing what to look out for. Remind yourself to stop, think, and protect.

Stop

People fall victim to scams when their guard is down. They might be in a rush, under pressure, or just not paying attention to what they’re doing. When you’re expecting a tax refund, it’s easy to act on autopilot and click a link in a text message when you receive one. Remember to slow down – don’t click any links or input any personal information without questioning whether it’s legitimate.

Think

Remember, the ATO will never send you links to log in to MyGov, or threaten you with jail time out of the blue. Think before you click, pay, enter your details or transfer money. Log in to your MyGov account via the official website to check the status of your tax lodgements.

Protect

Use a strong password for your MyGov account, and consider using two factor authentication methods. The MyGov app allows you to use a biometric verification, which is an added layer of security.

If you think you’ve been scammed, or if a scammer has your personal information, contact your bank immediately. The sooner you act, the sooner they can try to put protections on your accounts.

Learn more about our latest scam alerts and information to keep yourself and your family safe online.