ATO Tax Scams: 5 Alarming Examples Every Australian Needs to Know About
- Future Accounting
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
How to Spot an ATO Tax Scam and What to Do If You're Targeted
As tax time approaches, scammers are ramping up efforts to target hardworking Australians. From fake myGov messages to phishing emails and false ATO refund alerts, ATO tax scams are frequent and sophisticated.
Data analysts at IDCARE - Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service - consistently report a spike in ATO impersonation scams in the three months following the end of the financial year.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Services Australia have issued several warnings this week about scammers impersonating government services to steal sensitive personal and financial information, including your Tax File Number (TFN), bank account details, and myGov login credentials.
In this article, we outline the five most common ATO tax scams currently circulating, how to spot them, and what to do if you think you've been targeted.
Why should I bother?
Always be aware of what information you share. If a scammer gets your personal information, they can use it to access your bank account, sign in to your myGov account, or steal money and commit fraud in your name.
To keep yourself safe:
Stop – Don't share your personal information such as your myGov sign in details, Tax File Number (TFN), or bank account details, with anyone unless you trust the person and they genuinely need your details.
Check – Take a sec to check. Ask yourself could the message or call be fake? Is it really the ATO contacting you?
Protect – Act quickly if something feels wrong or you've noticed suspicious activity on your ATO accounts.
How can I tell if a message from the ATO is genuine?
Understanding how the ATO communicates can help you spot fake messages. The ATO will:
Never ask for your TFN or bank details by return email, SMS, or social media.
Never send a link or QR code asking you to log into a service.
Only send messages prompting you to check your myGov inbox via a notification, not a direct link.
When in doubt, call the ATO or visit their official website.
What ATO scams should I look for?
ATO tax scams involve fraudulent communication — typically through email, SMS, phone calls or social media — pretending to be from the ATO or myGov. The goal is to trick recipients into handing over private information, clicking malicious links, or making unauthorised payments. These scams often appear genuine and use ATO branding, language and design to deceive.
1. Fake ATO refund hoaxes
Scammers are sending emails that look like they are from the ATO, telling recipients they are entitled to a tax refund. One variation uses the message: “You are due to receive an ATO Direct refund.”
These emails encourage users to click a link, which leads to a fake site designed to steal personal details.
Important: The ATO will never send an email or SMS with a link to access services. Always visit ato.gov.au directly through your browser.
2. Fake myGov email notifications
This scam targets myGov users with messages stating: “You have a new message in your myGov inbox – click here to view.”
These emails redirect recipients to fake login pages, where personal information can be harvested and misused.
Tip: Always access your myGov account by typing the official address into your browser, not by clicking links in emails.
3. Fake ATO SMS and emails
During tax season, scammers use urgent language to manipulate recipients into clicking links. Common scam messages include:
“You have an ATO notification”
“We need to verify your incoming tax deposit”
“Your ATO refund failed due to incorrect bank details”
“Click here to receive your rebate”
These are designed to panic recipients into immediate action, exposing personal and banking information.
Stay alert: Never click links or respond to messages requesting account updates or refunds.
4. Fake Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) emails
In this version, scammers claim there is a security update required for your ATO account and prompt you to scan a QR code to update your multi-factor authentication.
The QR code leads to a fake myGov login page designed to capture your credentials.
Reminder: The ATO does not send QR codes in emails and will never include a link or QR code to log in to online services.
5. Fake ATO social media accounts
Scammers have also created fake social media accounts pretending to be the ATO on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.
These fake social media accounts often request users to send direct messages in order to “assist with ATO issues,” then steal their personal information.
The ATO’s only official accounts are on Facebook, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), and all communications are made via verified channels.
Always verify that any ATO-related communication ends in “.gov.au”.
How to Protect Yourself from ATO Tax Scams
You can take the following steps to reduce your risk of being scammed:
Do not share your TFN, bank account details or myGov login information with anyone via email, SMS or social media.
Always access ATO services by manually typing ato.gov.au into your browser.
Never scan QR codes or click on links in unsolicited emails or texts claiming to be from the ATO.
Check sender email addresses for legitimacy — real government communications will come from domains ending in “.gov.au”.
Stay informed about the latest scam alerts on the ATO website.
What should I do if I think I’ve been scammed?
If you believe your personal or financial information has been compromised:
Call the ATO asap on 1800 467 033.
They will investigate the issue and apply extra protection to your account.
Update your passwords and notify your bank if financial data was shared.
Monitor your ATO and bank accounts for any unusual activity.
Note: The ATO will not leave you a voicemail unless your voicemail greeting clearly provides your name, so make sure your voicemail is up to date.
Need help navigating tax time or scam concerns?
If you're unsure whether a message is legitimate, or you believe you may have interacted with a scam, our team at is here to help.
We can help you find and address ATO scams, secure your financial data, and ensure your tax affairs are properly managed and protected.
