Yahoo Finance Warning over $328 tax return message: ‘We have processed your refund’
Tax scams are on the rise as Aussies prepare to lodge their tax returns.
Aussies have been warned to watch out for tax scams, as fraudsters ramp up their efforts to trick those eager to receive their refunds.
A new scam email doing the rounds claims the recipient’s tax refund has been processed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) but there is “action required” to complete the refund.
The email claims to be sent by the ATO and uses the government body’s branding.
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“We are writing to inform you that your tax refund for the fiscal year 2022 is now available for collection,” the email shared by 7NEWS.com.au reads.
“We have processed your refund, and the amount due to you is $328. To ensure a hassle-free and convenient process, we have implemented an online system for tax refund collection.”
The phishing email then directs the recipient to click a button to verify their details and complete the tax refund process.
The ATO has urged people to be wary of emails, phone calls and text messages claiming to be sent from it. The ATO said it would never send an email or SMS with a link to log into its online services.
If you think a message claiming to be from the ATO is not genuine, do not engage with it. You can check whether it is legitimate by calling the ATO on 1800 008 540.
Tax scams on the rise
One in four Aussies have been exposed to tax or end-of-financial-year-related scams, recent research by CommBank has found.
The ATO has already received 19,843 reports of tax-related scams for the 2022-23 year to June, with impersonation scams the most common.
Scammers will often use cold-call tactics and claim an individual needs to pay a processing fee or provide personal details to expedite their tax refund.
“We understand the financial pressures many Australians face during tax season, and protecting their hard-earned money is paramount,” CommBank general manager of group fraud management services James Roberts said.
“We want to remind everyone to stay alert to tax scams and stop, check, reject suspicious requests. By staying informed, questioning suspicious messages and verifying the legitimacy of communications, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
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