In January 2025, the ATO received 5,806 reports of ATO impersonation scams, marking a 19% increase compared to December 2024. With this rise in fraudulent activity, it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and while no payments were reported lost last month, many individuals—particularly those over 65—were targeted for their personal information.
How to Stay Protected The best way to protect yourself and your business is to stop, check and protect before taking any action in response to unexpected messages or calls.
Recognising Scam Red Flags Scammers often attempt to create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Before responding to any ATO-related communication, look for the following red flags:
- Hyperlinks in messages – The ATO will never send unsolicited messages with clickable links.
- Urgency or fear tactics – Messages claiming immediate action is required to avoid penalties are suspicious.
- Requests for personal information or payments – The ATO does not request personal details or payments via email or SMS.
- Spelling and grammar errors – Professional organisations rarely make these mistakes.
- Unofficial email addresses or phone numbers – Even if an email looks legitimate, always verify its source.
Verifying Legitimacy If you receive a call, SMS, voicemail, email, or social media message claiming to be from the ATO:
- Do not engage – Avoid clicking links, responding, or providing any personal details.
- Verify the sender – Contact the ATO directly using official contact details from their website.
- Check your account – Log in to your ATO online services by typing the ATO website address directly into your browser.
For added security, consider using a Digital ID such as myID, ensuring it is set to the highest security level available.
Reporting Suspicious Activity If you suspect an ATO impersonation scam:
- Visit the ATO’s Verify or report a scam page to confirm and report fraudulent activity.
- If you have accidentally provided personal details or made a payment to a scammer, call the ATO’s scam helpline immediately at 1800 008 540.
- Check out Scamwatch for the latest scam alerts and protective measures.
By taking a moment to stop and verify before acting, you can help safeguard yourself and your business from falling victim to impersonation scams.
Information sourced from the Australian Taxation Office, published 6 February 2025.
