There’s nothing quite like the jolt of panic that comes from seeing an unexpected email from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) pop up in your inbox, especially around tax time.

For many of us, that familiar flutter of anxiety is enough to make our hearts skip a beat.

But what if that email isn’t from the ATO at all? Unfortunately, a new wave of sophisticated scams is sweeping the country, and it’s catching even the most cautious Aussies off guard.


Gone are the days of poorly worded emails from foreign princes. Today’s scammers are slick, tech-savvy, and frighteningly convincing.

One recent example making the rounds is an email that looks almost identical to official ATO correspondence.


It’s short, sharp, and to the point: 'You have a new payment message in your inbox. View now.' Signed simply, 'Regards, ATO.'

It’s the kind of message that could easily catch anyone off guard, especially during tax season, when we’re all a bit on edge about our finances.

The urge to click and find out what’s going on is strong. But as one vigilant Aussie discovered, a quick check of the sender’s email address revealed the truth: it was a scam, and a dangerous one at that.


Scammers know that the ATO is an authority most of us don’t want to mess with.

The mere suggestion that you might owe money, or that there’s an issue with your tax return, is enough to make anyone nervous.

And that’s exactly what these fraudsters are counting on.

Accountant Linda Mirams, who’s seen the fallout firsthand, describes the current situation as a 'plague.'

She’s had five clients this year alone who’ve fallen victim to these scams, losing thousands of dollars in the process.

The scam works like this: you click the link, enter your details, and the hackers use that information to access your myGov or ATO account.

They change your bank details, file a fraudulent tax return, and pocket your refund—sometimes before you even realise anything’s wrong.

To make matters worse, these scammers are clever enough to unlink your tax agent from your account, so your accountant won’t be notified of any suspicious activity.

When you or your accountant discovers the fraud, it’s often too late.

Ms Mirams shared the story of one client who lost a $5,000 tax refund to scammers.

In some cases, she’s been able to intervene in time, contacting the ATO to have the tax file number marked as compromised.

But if the refund has already been paid out, there’s little that can be done.

The aftermath is a bureaucratic nightmare. Having your tax file number compromised can take months to resolve, and with the ATO currently dealing with a backlog of scam victims, the process is slower than ever.

The ATO has issued clear advice: they will never send unsolicited emails or SMS messages containing hyperlinks to log in to online services.

If you receive a message like this, don’t click on any links. Instead, log in to your myGov account through the official website, or contact your tax agent or the ATO directly on 1800 008 540.

Sadly, scammers often target older Australians, knowing that many of us are less familiar with the latest digital tricks.

We’re also more likely to be managing our finances carefully in retirement, making the threat of a tax issue even more stressful.

But don’t let the scammers win! We can protect ourselves and our hard-earned savings by staying informed and vigilant.

If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a scam, don’t panic—but do act fast. Contact your accountant and the ATO immediately.

The sooner you report the issue, the better your chances of stopping the scammers in their tracks.

It’s also a good idea to let your friends and family know about the scam, so they can be on the lookout too.

The more we talk about these issues, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.
Have you received a suspicious email or text claiming to be from the ATO? Did you almost fall for it, or do you have tips for spotting a scam? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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