How to spot a fake
Often the first sign that something is amiss is alerts about activity on your myGov account or a change in details – which might seem a little ironic if the way in which scammers got into your account in the first place is via these very same messages. But, there are ways to spot a fake:
· The ATO, Centrelink and MyGov don’t use hyperlinks in messages. If you receive a message with a link, it’s a fake.
· The ATO will not use QR codes as a method for you to access your account.
· The ATO will never ask for your tax file number (TFN), bank account details or your myGov login details over social media. Some scammers have used fake social media accounts mimicking the ATO and other Government agencies. When a query comes in, they respond by asking for information to verify it’s you. The ATO will never slide into your DMs. ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh said, “it’s like giving your house keys to a stranger and watching them change your locks.”
· The ATO do not use pre-recorded messages to alert you to outstanding tax debt. The ATO will not cancel your TFN. Some scammers suggest that your TFN has been cancelled or suspended due to criminal activity or money
laundering and then tell you to either pay a fee to correct it, or transfer your money to a ‘safe’ bank account to protect you against your corrupted TFN.
· The ATO will not initiate a conference call between you and your tax agent and someone from a law enforcement agency. In one case, the taxpayer was told that the caller was from the ATO and a person from her accounting firm was on the call as well to represent her and work through a problem. The ATO caller and the tax agent were fake. Just hang up and call our office if you are ever concerned. The ATO will never initiate a conference call of this type.
· The ATO will also not ask you to reconfirm your details because of security updates to myGov. The link, when activated, takes you to a fake myGov web page that can look very convincing.
In general, you should always log into your myGov account directly to check on any details alerted in messages rather than clicking on links. This way, you know that you are not being redirected to somewhere you should not be.
And, don’t log into your myGov account on free wifi networks. Ever.
