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.
If you are unsure if the message or call you have received is a scam, contact the ATO on 1800 008 540 or MyGov on 132 307.
If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately to stop any payments, tell your telco and help other Australians by reporting to Scamwatch.
Scammers target everyone. Talk with your friends and family – especially if they are in potentially vulnerable circumstances – about how to identify scams.
Get informed:
- ACMA’s tips for dealing with phone scams.
- Scamwatch’s advice about protecting yourself.
- IDCARE can help if your identity has been compromised or stolen. Call 1800 595 160 or visit www.idcare.org.
- Use our phone scam educational materials, which include posters in English, 10 other languages and for First Nations Australians, and graphics for social media.
The ACMA supports the government’s Fighting Scams initiative to address scams and online fraud and protect Australians from financial harm. It supports the work of the National Anti-Scam Centre, which commenced operations on 1 July 2023. The National Centre coordinates government, law enforcement and the private sector to combat scams.