Scam Alert – ATO impersonation email scam

The ATO is receiving reports of a new email scam attempting to steal personal identifying information by return email.

Scammers pretending to be from the ‘Australian Taxation Office’ or ‘myGov’ are emailing and falsely telling people their taxable income has been recalculated and they are due to receive compensation. To claim the amount, they are asked to reply to the email with personal identifying information such as payslips, TFN, driver’s licence and Medicare details.

Scammers use this information in a variety of ways to:

  • commit refund fraud in your name
  • access your myGov account to steal your tax refund
  • steal your superannuation
  • sell your identity to organised crime groups on the dark web or via other means.

Be aware, the sender’s email address looks legitimate. The following image is an example of the format this scam can take.

If you receive an email like this, do not reply with any of your personal information.

To help protect yourself we remind you:

  • We will never send an unsolicited message asking you to return personal identifying information through SMS or Email.
  • Know your tax affairs – legitimate email communication from us can be located in ATO online services. You can check this by logging into your myGov account. You can also contact your tax agent or the ATO.
  • If someone claiming to be from the ATO contacts you and advises that you have a debt or are owed a refund or asks for your myGov sign in credentials, bank or personal details such as your TFN, it is likely they are a scammer.
  • Don’t click on links, open attachments or download any files from suspicious emails or SMS; we will never send an unsolicited SMS that contains a hyperlink.
  • We are on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn, but we will never use these social media platforms to discuss your personal information or documentation, or ask you to make payments.

If you’re unsure if it’s really the ATO, don’t engage with them. Phone the ATO on 1800 008 540 to check. You can report any suspicious contact claiming to be from the ATO to .

Share this:

Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is based on information believed to be accurate and reliable at the time of publication. Any illustrations of past performance do not imply similar performance in the future. To the extent permissible by law, neither we nor any of our related entities, employees, or directors gives any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information; or accepts any responsibility for any person acting, or refraining from acting, on the basis of information contained in this newsletter. This information is of a general nature only. It is not intended as personal advice or as an investment recommendation, and does not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situation and needs of a particular investor. Before making an investment decision you should read the product disclosure statement of any financial product referred to in this newsletter and speak with your financial planner to assess whether the advice is appropriate to your particular investment objectives, financial situation and needs.