Tax office warns of scam email

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

The email 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 be variations to these subject lines).

Acting tax commissioner Greg Farr says anyone who receives the email should delete it immediately.

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.

The email and website are not affiliated with the tax office in any way.

“With the October 31 deadline for tax returns approaching, people should be particularly wary of any unsolicited emails claiming to be from the tax office,” Farr says.

“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 relevant authorities who are investigating and advises people to 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.

This what the scam email looks like.