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'Don't click': ATO warns of new tax scam

The ATO warns of new text scam. Source: ATO
The ATO warns of new text scam. Source: ATO

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has sounded the alarm on various scams circulating during tax season, specifically pointing out a new malicious text message.

“We’re receiving increasing reports of several myGov-related SMS and email scams,” the ATO stated.

“These scams look like they have come from a myGov or ATO email address. They also might appear in your legitimate ATO or myGov SMS message thread.”

Australians are being duped by the text as the ATO does in fact send email and text notifications when there are new messages in your myGov inbox, but there’s one major difference.

“These messages will never include a link to log on to your myGov account,” the ATO stated.

“Don’t click any links and don’t provide the information requested.”

Instead, you should always access the ATO’s online services directly via either the myGov website, the ATO website or the ATO app.

“All online management of your personal tax affairs should be done in ATO online services, accessed through your genuine myGov account,” the ATO stated.

“Any communications containing your personal information, such as your tax file number (TFN), will be sent to your myGov inbox, not your email account.”

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To make accessing your myGov account more secure, you can opt to receive a security code via text.

Earlier this month, the ATO warned against scam phone calls that appear to be from the tax office or Services Australia, but were in fact phishing calls.

“Scammers are constantly developing new ways to steal from the community and will often try to take advantage of people when they are most vulnerable,” the ATO stated.

If you receive an SMS or email from the ATO that you think is fraudulent, report it to: reportemailfraud@ato.gov.au.

If you think you’ve received a fraudulent text or email from myGov, report it to: reportascam@servicesaustralia.gov.au.

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