The Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) has issued a warning through its StaySmartOnline service for taxpayers to watch out for a fake myGov email promising a tax return.
The Department said scammers had long used the promise of a tax refund to trick people into sharing their personal information or to download malware.
“The email, which has the subject line ‘Important information regarding your account’, includes the myGov logo and claims to be from the myGov team,” the AGD said.
It said the email was actually a phishing scam designed to steal personal and financial information.
“The email asks you to click on a link to claim your refund.
“If you click the link a fake tax refund claim form will open in your browser.”
AGD said the form asked for the recipient’s name and contact details, myGov password and credit card number.
“After you supply this information and click the ‘Continue’ button, you’ll be automatically redirected to the myGov website.
“By then, it’s too late and the scammer has your details.”
It said the scammers used the information to commit credit card fraud and identity theft.
“If you receive an email like this one, do not click on any links or open any attachments,” the Department said.
It reminded consumers that the Australian Taxation Office and myGov never send an email or SMS asking them to click on a link and provide login, personal or financial information, download a file or open an attachment.
