Alert issued for suspected tax fraud scheme
Heyy there! Check it out, mate. There's some sneaky business going on, and you gotta be on your toes. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is under attack by these phishing campaigns, both through emails and text messages (SMS).
These nasty scammers are pretending to be the ATO and government services to trick taxpayers. One example is sending emails that claim there are 'irregularities' in their tax situation, and they need to click on the provided link to access the 'dispute resolution guide'. But these emails are bunk, mate! The only thing you should do with them is hit that little delete button.
Similarly, watch out for those suspicious SMS messages. They try to fool you into making unjust payments to 'regularise' your tax situation. If you get these messages, give 'em a good laugh by ignoring them and moving on.
Remember, these messages are just a ~~bed of lies~~ load of nonsense, trying to get you to access sinister pages by clicking on the suggested links or making needless payments. Never fall for it, mate.
Now, here's what you need to know about these scams:- There has been a significant increase in ATO impersonation scams, with losses up to $13.7 million in the early months of 2025[2][4]. The ATO has seen a more than 300% increase in such scams compared to the previous year[2][4].- One sophisticated email scam involves messages that appear to be from the ATO, claiming a tax refund is available. These emails include weird QR codes, PDF attachments, and links to bogus ATO sites. The objective is to trap recipients into providing credit card details[1].- There's a new trend where scammers are sending emails early in the morning, taking advantage of your morning haze. These emails often claim to be urgent notifications about tax refunds or benefits[4].- Another type of scam is about supposedly delayed funds transfers due to identity verification issues. These emails include attachments that claim to be payment slips and direct you to verify your identity through phishing pages[5].- The ATO advises taxpayers to stay vigilant against emails, SMS, and phone calls claiming to be from the ATO, especially during tax season[3]. Official communications from the ATO will never ask for personal or financial information via these channels.
To protect yourself:- Be suspicious of grammatical errors and odd language in emails.- Don't click on links or scan QR codes from sketchy emails.- Verify any urgent notifications by getting in touch with the ATO directly through proper channels.- Use two-factor authentication and make sure your software is up-to-date to defend against phishing attacks.
In light of the escalating phishing scams, be wary of false news that might originate from sources claiming to be the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) regarding your tax situation, finance, or technology. For instance, avoid clicking links in suspicious emails promising a tax refund with QR codes, PDF attachments, or sham ATO sites, as they may lead to dangerous pages and deception. Moreover, remain vigilant during tax season as scammers often ramp up their activities, attempting to dupe you with urgent messages or emails about tax refunds or benefits.
