{"id":41299,"date":"2023-06-07T20:27:52","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T10:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geeks2u.com.au\/?p=41299"},"modified":"2023-06-08T09:01:52","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T23:01:52","slug":"how-to-stay-safe-online-during-tax-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geeks2u.com.au\/geekspeak\/how-to-stay-safe-online-during-tax-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Common scams you might encounter during end of financial year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the past few years, more and more Australians have opted to do some or all their taxes online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some huge advantages to this approach; you can save a lot of time sending documents electronically, there\u2019s a clear digital trail of your activities, and you can typically gather up your tax return \u2013 or sort out any lingering tax debts \u2013 in a fraction of the time that it might take to process a paper-based tax return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, sadly where there\u2019s money at play, there are scammers out there looking to score access to your money and your valuable personal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of scammers, in fact, with the ATO reporting that in February 2022, it received 1,815 reports of scammers pretending to be from the tax department.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s undoubtedly the tip of the iceberg, as most people won\u2019t bother to report scams if they don\u2019t fall foul of them. As Australians ready to prepare their tax returns, the pressure will only intensify, and that can be seen from last year\u2019s figures, where reported scam activity absolutely peaked around the June and July timeframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scammers will attempt to gather in your information via some rudimentary methods, mostly designed to make you panic around a supposed debt or evasion. When you\u2019re flustered or worried, you\u2019re less likely to question someone claiming to be in a position of supposed authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what can you do to keep yourself safe while readying your tax affairs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never log into ATO services via an email or SMS link<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scammers will try to get you to log into a page that looks exactly like the myGov login portal. It will use the same images; the login field will look identical\u2026 but it\u2019s a fake. By the time you realise it, the scammers will have your login details and password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how can you tell the fake from the real thing? You can check the URL field \u2013 that\u2019s the address bar at the top of your browser \u2013 but the smarter way to approach this kind of thing is to realise that the ATO never<\/em> includes a login link in any email or SMS. If you\u2019re sent that kind of link, ignore it. If you\u2019re concerned, make your own way to the MyGov portal from a web browser and log in there. If there\u2019s a legitimate issue with the ATO, it will sit in your messages inbox within the MyGov portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ignore pre-recorded messages or threats of arrest<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is classic scammer territory because you can\u2019t argue with a recorded message, and many people will panic at the thought of being arrested for a tax debt they didn\u2019t realise they had \u2013 because of course they don\u2019t!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t hand over personal information via email, even if it\u2019s for a \u201crefund\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another tax scam variant is to suggest that you\u2019re due a refund, sometimes for a significant amount. All you have to do is \u201cupdate your financial information\u201d via a linked form in the email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This just simply isn\u2019t how the ATO works, but it\u2019s a common enough scam that can lure in the unwary who get dazzled by the dollar signs dangling in front of their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, if you\u2019re due a refund there will be a clear trail of it within your online MyGov account page. If in doubt, look up the ATO contact details online \u2013 don\u2019t use those provided in an SMS, email or phone call \u2013 and check with them that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ATO doesn\u2019t really care about Apple Gift Cards<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This scam is so widespread, and so common that it\u2019s commonly highlighted in stores where gift cards are sold. Anecdotally, I\u2019ve been in more than one store where someone buying high value gift cards was asked by store staff if it was to pay a fake ATO \u201cdebt\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ATO is of course an arm of the Federal Government, and they\u2019ve got no interest in being paid in gift cards, cryptocurrency or via a direct deposit to a personal bank account. If somebody claiming to be from the ATO demands payment in any of these ways, it\u2019s a 100% clear indication of a scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re wondering why the scammers want gift cards, it\u2019s not because they want to then be nice to their nannas. It\u2019s that a registered gift card becomes (in effect) untraceable money that they can then sell online in bulk. Even if it costs them a little to send out the card details to unwitting genuine consumers, they\u2019re still in profit, and you have no way of getting your money back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re concerned that you may have been the victim of a tax scam, you can report it online to the ATO by calling 1800 008 540, or by emailing to ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worried about your online privacy and personal digital security? A Digital Security Check<\/a> might be exactly what you’re looking for. This service will help protect your household against scammers, viruses and offers simple and affordable digital privacy solutions tailored for your needs. Book online today<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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