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Tax Time Scams
CoggerGurry • September 3, 2024
An ever-increasing number of email and SMS scams are doing the rounds in 2024, but perhaps most troubling is the fact that they are becoming increasingly believable.
In our industry they are typically sent from scammers purporting to be the ATO and seeking additional information to you as a taxpayer.
Key things to remember if you are confronted with a suspicious email or SMS.
- Look out for messages containing a link that asks you to log in to a government service such as myGov. The ATO has recently removed all hyperlinks in unsolicited, outbound SMS, so if you’ve received a message that appears to be from the ATO but contains a link, it’s a scam.
- You should always access ATO services by visiting ato.gov.au or my.gov.au, or via the ATO app.
- Be careful of emails requesting personal or financial information, especially if they claim to be urgent or time sensitive. The ATO will never ask for passwords, account numbers, or other sensitive data via email, SMS or unsolicited phone calls.
- Be wary of downloading attachments or opening email links. They can infect your computer with malware, leading to information being stolen.
In summary, if in doubt call CoggerGurry on 03 5571 0111, as your tax agent we can confirm any correspondence from the ATO or provide advice if you think you’ve had your security breached.
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