Stay Alert: How to Spot and Avoid ATO Scams
Scams via email and SMS are on the rise, and what’s more concerning is how convincing they’ve become. In our industry, many of these scams come in the form of messages purporting to be the ATO and seeking additional information from you as a taxpayer.
Here are key things to remember if you receive a suspicious email or SMS:
Watch out for messages with links that prompt you to log in to government services like myGov/myID. The ATO has recently stopped including hyperlinks in unsolicited SMS messages. So, if you receive a message claiming to be from the ATO but it contains a link, it’s almost certainly a scam.
Always access ATO services directly by typing the web address yourself: ato.gov.au or my.gov.au, or via the ATO app.
Be cautious of emails asking for personal or financial information, especially if they claim to be urgent. The ATO will never request sensitive information such as passwords, account numbers, or personal details via email, SMS, or unsolicited phone calls.

Be wary of downloading attachments or clicking on links in emails, as they may contain malware that can steal your personal information.
If you’re ever in doubt, contact our office on 03 5571 0111. As your tax agent, we can verify whether any communication you’ve received from the ATO is legitimate and advise you if you think your security has been compromised.
