Australian Tax Office Warns Of Scam Email

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com, London

17 October 2007

The Australian Taxation Office is warning people about a fraudulent email being circulated that claims to offer a refund from the ATO.

The email is similar to a scam which took place back in June, and fraudulently uses the tax office logo and the words ‘Australian Taxation Office – Notification’ or ‘Australian Taxation Office – Please Read This’ in the subject line (there may also be variations to these titles).

The email asks people to click on a link which redirects them to a bogus website that looks similar to the ATO website and asks for credit card and personal details in order to receive a refund. Neither the email nor the website are not affiliated with the tax authority in any way.

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," he announced, continuing:

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

The Tax Office has notified the relevant authorities, who are investigating, and is advising that 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, the ATO warning concluded.

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