ATO warning on refund email scam

The scam is said to be similar to previous ones and uses the Tax Office logo and the words ‘Notification - Please read’ or ‘Australian Taxation Office - Please Read This’ in the subject heading.

There may also be more variations to these subject headings, the ATO said.

The email asks people to click on a link which directs them to a bogus website that looks similar to the Tax Office website and asks for credit card and personal details, according to Tax Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo.

“People should be wary of unsolicited emails claiming to be from the Tax Office,” said D’Ascenzo.

“The Tax Office never sends emails asking people to provide personal information including credit card details. Anyone who receives the email should delete it immediately.”

D’Ascenzo advised Internet users to always type internet addresses ‘directly into your internet browser rather than clicking on links embedded in emails’ as a precaution to becoming a victim of these types of scams.

“If people have entered their credit card information on the website, they should immediately report it to their credit card provider,” he advised.