As the end of the financial year (EOFY) approaches, we’re all busier than usual as we scramble to get our financial affairs in order before 30 June.
We start preparing tax returns in a bid to get any refunds early in these constrained times as the cost of living bites.
But, in your haste to get your financial affairs in order, remember to be vigilant about scams. This is a peak time for cyber criminals to take advantage of how busy we all are and attempt to fleece you of hard-earned funds.
Phishing is a tried-and-tested method by which cyber criminals trick you into giving them personal information. They send you fraudulent emails or text messages often purporting to be from large organisations you know or trust.
Scammer warnings
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Services Australia have warned that scammers use phrases like:
- You are due to receive an ATO direct refund.
- You have a new message in your myGov inbox – click here to view.
- You need to update your details to allow your tax return to be processed.
- We need to verify your incoming tax deposit.
- ATO refund failed due to incorrect BSB/Account number.
- Your income statement is ready, click on the link to view.
The cyber crims are hoping you’ll click, enabling them to steal your identity first and then your money. Be alert to the potential.
The ATO and myGov will never send you an SMS or email with a link to access online services. You can access them directly by typing ato.gov.au or my.gov.au into your browser.
Report suspicious contact
The ATO provides tips here on how to protect yourself from scams. In April 2024, the ATO received 1,276 reports of ATO impersonation scams – a 34% increase on the March 2024 figure.
You can report any suspicious contact claiming to be from the ATO at ReportScams@ato.gov.au.
Find out more about scams impersonating myGov here.
You can report non-ATO or myGov scams to the Australian Government’s Scamwatch. You can also find tips on protecting yourself at the Scamwatch home page.
JMD Ross Insurance Brokers can help you mitigate against a wide range of risks by providing insurance solutions.
To discuss your risk management and insurance requirements, please contact:
- John Davaine M 0413 610 523 E jdavaine@jmdross.com.au
- John G Duncan M 0418 976 772 E jgduncan@jmdross.com.au
- Bhavesh Radiya M 0414 247 055 E bradiya@jmdross.com.au