Watch out for tax scams

The Federal Budget is behind us, and amid the celebrations over tax cuts (around $500 annually for low to middle income earners), now is the time to be mindful of scammers pretending to be from government bodies – especially the Tax Office. In some cases, scam victims have lost close to $1 million dollars. 

Beware scams posing as ASIC
If previous years are anything to go by, the end of the financial year will bring the inevitable wave of scams. Money watchdog ASIC for instance, has recently warned about crims posing as ASIC representatives asking victims to pay bogus fees. They often make contact via email, accompanied by an invoice that infects your computer with malware if you click the link. 

Protect yourself by looking for warning signs that show an email isn’t from ASIC at all. The clues include requests to make a payment in order to receive a refund, or if the email asks directly for your credit card or bank details. 

Dodgy emails seeming to come from the ATO
More worrying, the Tax Office has recently advised that scammers are leaving voicemail messages on their victims’ phones, threatening the recipient with arrest due to an unpaid tax debt or suspected tax evasion. It can be scary stuff for those on the receiving end. 

Scammers are also sending fake emails asking for completion of a ‘tax refund review’ form to allow recipients to receive a refund. Apparently the form asks for online banking details, credit card numbers (and even credit limits) as well as your personal address. The Tax Office is warning not to click on or save any attachments as they may download malicious malware. Above all, do not disclose the personal information the form is requesting. 

Scam victims can pay dearly
Not surprisingly, many people are taken in by these scams, and in previous years up to 48,000 people have reported coming across these scams between the peak tax-time months of July and October. Hundreds of Australians have collectively handed over millions of dollars to scammers with one victim losing $900,000 borrowed from friends and family. Others have handed over personal details such as tax file numbers, which can lead to identity theft. 

Protect yourself – and your money
In many cases, scam emails are easily spotted. Hover your computer’s mouse over the email address of the sender and it will show the true source. Have a close look through the email, and you’ll typically find that scam messages are poorly written with some pretty obvious spelling mistakes. The email may ask you to click what appears to be a link to the Tax Office website but when you hold the mouse over the link, it won’t have the official ato.gov.au address. 

If you are unsure if a phone call or voicemail is from the tax man, call the Tax Office on 1800 008 540. Better still, contact us as we can be a valued source of reassurance if you find yourself crossing paths with a scammer. 

– by Paul Clitheroe AM 
Paul Clitheroe AM, co-founder and Executive Director of ipac securities limited, Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and Chief Commentator for Money magazine. 

© AMP Life Limited. First published May 2018