ATO Scams in Australia: How to Spot a Fake Tax Office Call, Text or Email
Scammers impersonate the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) all year, with peaks during tax time from July to October. You might get a robocall saying you have a tax debt and police will arrest you, or a text or email saying you're owed a refund and must 'verify' your details or log in to myGov through a link. The goal is to get you to pay with gift cards, crypto or bank transfer, or to hand over your myGov login and Tax File Number (TFN) for identity theft. The real ATO won't threaten you with immediate arrest or ask for payment by gift card, and you can always check what you really owe by logging in to myGov yourself.
Real Scam Message Examples
These are real examples of messages used in this type of scam. If you receive something similar, do not click any links.
Example 1
“ATO: You are eligible for a tax refund of $892.40. Please verify your bank details within 24 hours to receive payment: ato-refund-mygov.com”
Example 2
“This is the Australian Taxation Office. There is a warrant for your arrest due to tax fraud. Press 1 to speak with an officer before your case is handed to the Federal Police.”
Example 3
“myGov: Your ATO account has been suspended due to unusual activity. Sign in to restore access: mygov-au-login.net”
Warning Signs of an ATO Scam
- ⚠A robocall or caller says you owe tax and that police will arrest you unless you pay immediately
- ⚠You're told to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, a Bitcoin ATM, or a transfer to a personal account
- ⚠A text or email says you have a refund and includes a link to 'claim' it or log in to myGov
- ⚠You're asked for your TFN, myGov password, or bank details by text, email or social media
- ⚠The message comes from a random mobile number or a lookalike website rather than ato.gov.au or my.gov.au
How Does This Scam Work?
- 1You get a call, text, email or social-media message that uses the ATO name, logo or a spoofed ATO phone number
- 2The scammer claims you have an unpaid debt (with an arrest threat) or an unclaimed refund
- 3You're sent to a fake myGov or ATO page that captures your login, TFN, driver's licence and bank details
- 4For 'debts', you're kept on the phone and directed to buy gift cards or deposit cash at a Bitcoin ATM
- 5Stolen myGov access can be used to lodge fraudulent tax returns or change bank details to redirect refunds
Legitimate vs Scam: How to Tell the Difference
| Aspect | ✓ Legitimate | ✗ Scam |
|---|---|---|
| Refunds | Refunds are paid to the bank account in your tax return, after you lodge | A text or email with a link to 'claim' or 'verify' a refund |
| Logging in | You sign in to myGov by typing my.gov.au yourself or using the myGov app | A link in a message takes you to a lookalike login page |
| Payment method | Pay via BPAY, card or other methods listed on ato.gov.au, using your payment reference number | Gift cards, crypto, Bitcoin ATMs or a personal bank account |
| Tone | The ATO works with you on debts, including payment plans | Threatens immediate arrest, jail or deportation |
What Should You Do?
- ✓Don't click links or call numbers in the message. Log in to myGov directly (my.gov.au or the myGov app) to check your ATO account
- ✓If unsure whether contact is real, call the ATO's dedicated scam line on 1800 008 540
- ✓Paste the suspicious message into ScamCheck for an instant verdict
- ✓If you gave out your TFN, myGov login or bank details, contact your bank and IDCARE (1800 595 160) for free identity-theft support
- ✓Report the scam to the ATO and to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au); report cybercrime losses via ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au
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Check it now — it's free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ATO send texts or emails with links?
The ATO has said it no longer includes links in unsolicited SMS or emails, and it will never send a link asking you to log in to online services. Any ATO text or email with a login or refund link should be treated as a scam — go to myGov yourself instead.
Can the ATO have me arrested for unpaid tax?
The ATO will not call to threaten you with immediate arrest or demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency or Bitcoin ATM. Hang up and check your account through myGov.
How do I report an ATO scam?
You can report ATO impersonation to the ATO (see 'Verify or report a scam' on ato.gov.au, or call 1800 008 540) and to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If you lost money, contact your bank immediately and report via ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au.
I gave a scammer my TFN — what should I do?
Contact the ATO as soon as possible so it can protect your TFN, and call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for free help with an identity-theft response plan. Check your myGov account for changes to your bank details or lodgements you didn't make.
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