The 3 Tips To Keep You Safe Online During Tax Time
Over the past few years, more and more Australians have opted to do some or all their taxes online.
There are some huge advantages to this approach; you can save a lot of time sending documents electronically, there’s a clear digital trail of your activities, and you can typically gather up your tax return – or sort out any lingering tax debts – in a fraction of the time that it might take to process a paper-based tax return.
However, sadly where there’s money at play, there are scammers out there looking to score access to your money and your valuable personal information.
A lot of scammers, in fact, with the ATO reporting that in the first 3 months of 2024, 3860 impersonation of the ATO across SMS, email Phone and Social Media had occurred.
Reported ATO Impersonation Attempts January to March 2024
And that is just the figures reported. As most people don’t report scams, the actual number is likely much higher!
So, what can you do to keep yourself safe while readying your tax affairs?
1. Never log into ATO Services via an Email or SMS link
Scammers will try to get you to log into a page that looks exactly like the myGov login portal. It will use the same images; the login field will look identical… but it’s a fake. By the time you realise it, the scammers will have your login details and password.
So how can you tell the fake from the real thing? You can check the URL field – that’s the address bar at the top of your browser – but the smarter way to approach this kind of thing is to realise that the ATO never includes a login link in any email or SMS.
If you’re sent that kind of link, ignore it. If you’re concerned, make your own way to the MyGov portal from a web browser and log in there. If there’s a legitimate issue with the ATO, it will sit in your messages inbox within the MyGov portal.
2. Ignore Pre-Recorded Messages or Threats of Arrest
This is classic scammer territory because you can’t argue with a recorded message, and many people will panic at the thought of being arrested for a tax debt they didn’t realise they had – because of course they don’t!
3. Don't Hand Over Personal Information via Email, Even if it's for a "refund"
Another tax scam variant is to suggest that you’re due a refund, sometimes for a significant amount. All you have to do is “update your financial information” via a linked form in the email.
This just simply isn’t how the ATO works, but it’s a common enough scam that can lure in the unwary who get dazzled by the dollar signs dangling in front of their eyes.
Again, if you’re due a refund there will be a clear trail of it within your online MyGov account page. If in doubt, look up the ATO contact details online – don’t use those provided in an SMS, email or phone call – and check with them that way.
If you’re concerned that you may have been the victim of a tax scam, you can report it online to the ATO by calling 1800 008 540, or by emailing to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au
Worried about your online privacy and personal digital security? Book a PC Security Check with the PC Guy to make sure you are secure. We can help protect you against scammers, viruses and offer simple and affordable digital privacy solutions.
