General News
29 July, 2024
Be wary of tax time scams
Certified Practising Accountant Australia (CPA), is urging residents to be wary of potential scams during tax time.
Since May 2024, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has received 6804 reports of phishing scams, where scammers claim to be the ATO to defraud taxpayers.
According to Scamwatch, phishing scams stole nearly $26 million from residents in 2023, an over five percent increase from 2022.
The ATO states that residents aged 25-34 have been most likely to inadvertently share personal information to ATO impersonation scammers, but according to CPA Australia spokesperson Gavan Ord, everybody is a target.
“It can be hard for anyone to spot tax time scams and the fact that young, tech savvy Aussies are most likely to be the victim of ATO impersonation scammers should be a wake-up call to everyone,” he said.
“It’s definitely a good idea to check in with elderly and vulnerable family members and friends to make sure they are aware of common scam types, but also remain vigilant yourself. It only takes a momentary lapse in judgement to be a victim.”
Cyber criminals have continued to evolve and adapt their methods to make their schemes more convincing, however there are some key signs to look out for.
In 2024, the ATO removed hyperlinks in unsolicited SMS messages, to help residents detect real messages. If you see any links or QR codes in an SMS or message claiming to be from the ATO, this will be a scam.
If the email address includes the acronym ATO or Australian Taxation Office in full, look for subtle anomalies like using a number, adding extra letters, or even removing a letter. Anything unusual is a red flag.
Be wary of unexpected requests for personal or financial information, especially if they claim it’s urgent. The ATO will never ask for passwords, account numbers or other sensitive data by email or SMS.
If you see a social media account claiming to be the ATO or myGov, look for the official logo and profile verification, such as the blue tick on Facebook and Instagram or grey tick on X. The ATO will never discuss your personal ATO account on any social media platform, including private messages.
For more information, contact the ATO on 1800 008 540, visit www.ato.gov.au, or go to www.scamwatch.gov.au