Tax Office warns of scam email

The scam, similar to one from June fraudulently uses the Tax Office logo and the words ‘Australian Taxation Office – Notification’ or ‘Australian Taxation Office – Please Read This’ in the subject line.

The email asks people to click on a link which redirects them to a bogus website that looks similar to the Tax Office website and asks for credit card and personal details in order to receive a refund.

Acting Tax Commissioner Greg Farr said anyone who receives the email should delete it immediately. “With the 31 October deadline for tax returns approaching, people should be particularly wary of any unsolicited emails claiming to be from the Tax Office,” Farr said.

“The Tax Office will never send an email to people asking them to provide personal information or credit card details,” he said.

Stay Smart Online, the Government security service said: “Do Not Click The Link.’ The email should be deleted immediately without following any instruction in the email.”

The Tax Office has notified relevant authorities who are investigating.
As an extra precaution people should type internet addresses directly into their internet browser rather than clicking on hyperlinks embedded in emails.

People who have entered their credit card information through this email should contact their credit card provider immediately and report a possible compromise.