Tips to avoid scammers at tax time

Ahead of the end of the financial year CRA Australia has released some tips to avoid scams when filling out your tax return.

They say that scams are becoming more sophisticated but there are signs to spot them, and that you should always stop and think carefully – don’t hand out any personal information.

Tips:

• Look for any grammatical errors or unusual language in emails or SMS messages.
• The ATO has removed hyperlinks in unsolicited SMS messages to make it easier for people to spot real messages from the fake ones. If you see any links in an SMS or QR codes in a message claiming to be from the ATO, this will be a scam.
• When it comes to emails, check the sender’s address. Anything unusual is a red flag. If the 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.
• Be wary of anyone making 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. If this ever happens, block and report the account by taking a screenshot and sending it to reportscams@ato.gov.au
• If you’re still unsure, you should always verify if the contact is legitimate by contacting the ATO on 1-800-008-540 or by visiting the verify or report scam page on the official ATO website https://www.ato.gov.au/

“Scammers take advantage of any situation, and at tax time that means targeting unsuspecting individuals through unsolicited messages claiming to be the ATO or another reputable organisation – known as ‘phishing’ scams,” says CPA Australia spokesperson Gavan Ord.

Image: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/scam-fraud-stamp-thief-crime-7256138/