Do you know anyone who has been caught out by a tax scam phone call or email? I certainly do and it can be devastating for people who lose their food and rent money and savings.
Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia have sent out a scam alert reminding everyone to ‘beware early morning tax scam emails and SMS designed to catch you off ‘guard’.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) have reported a 300 per cent increase in impersonation email scams. So make sure you are fully awake and have had your morning tea, coffee or just get your head in the right space before you start looking at and responding to messages.
CPA Australia Tax Lead, Jenny Wong, says Australians should prepare for a deluge of scam activity in the lead ‘up to June 30 – and make sure they have their morning coffee before opening emails and text messages.
‘Scammers take advantage of any situation, and at tax time that means targeting unsuspecting individuals through unsolicited messages claiming to be the ATO or another reputable organisation, she said.’
‘These “phishing” scams not only look legitimate, but they’re designed to catch you off ‘guard. That’s why you’ll often see them arrive first thing in the morning because you may be more likely to have a momentary lapse in judgement.
‘The scammers know Australians will have tax on their mind and are vulnerable to prompts to act, which is why these messages usually create a sense of urgency or claim of significant refund. While they could come at any time, be especially careful opening up and reading messages while you’re still waking up in the morning.
‘It’s crucial to see through the lies and review these communications with a clear mind once you’ve started your day and had a coffee or two.’
Data from the National Anti ‘Scam Centre shows a significant increase in scam losses in the first four months of 2025. The biggest increase in reported losses comes from phishing scams – where scammers impersonate government agencies and financial institutions – accounting for $13.7 million in losses, compared to $4.6 million in early 2024.
Scam emails seen by CPA Australia include titles like: ‘Urgent new notification in your account inbox’. The messages direct individuals to log into their myGov account and claim to provide a secure link.
These messages try to trick individuals to click the link to see ‘official government correspondence’, an ‘update regarding your benefits’, ‘a new refund notification’ or they need to click to ‘avoid being penalised’.
They even encourage individuals to ‘keep checking your inbox to stay informed about important updates related to your tax, pension and other government services’.
How to spot tax time scams
Distinguishing between legitimate and scam messages from the ATO is becoming increasingly difficult, however there are signs.
- Look for any grammatical errors and unusual language. This could include American English spellings such as using ‘z’ instead of ‘s’ for certain words.
- The ATO does not use hyperlinks in unsolicited SMS messages. If you see any links in an unsolicited SMS or any QR codes in a message claiming to be from the ATO, treat it as a scam.
- When it comes to emails, check the sender’s address. Anything unusual is a red flag. If the address includes the acronym ATO or Australian Taxation Office in full, look for subtle anomalies like using a number, adding extra letters, or even removing a letter.
- Be wary of anyone making unexpected requests for personal or financial information, especially if they claim it’s urgent. The ATO will never ask for passwords, account numbers or other sensitive data by email or SMS.
- If you see a social media account claiming to be the ATO or myGov, look for the official logo and profile verification, such as the blue tick on Facebook and Instagram or grey tick on X. The ATO will never discuss your personal ATO account on any social media platform, including private messages.
- If you’re still unsure, you should always verify if the contact is legitimate by contacting the ATO on 1 ‘800 ‘008 ‘540 or by visiting the verify or report scam page on the official ATO website.
Tax scams are the topic of one of four special CPA Australia With Interest podcasts coming in June with Joda Water, Assistant Commissioner of Cyber Governance at the ATO.
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