Tax Time Is Here – Are You Scam-Safe?

Tax time can be busy and confusing – and unfortunately, scammers know that.

They often pretend to be from trusted places like the Australian Tax Office (ATO) or myGov to trick people into giving away money or personal details.

What Scammers Might Do?

Scammers may:

• Say you owe money and try to scare you.

• Promise a refund to get your details.

• Send fake emails, texts, or even call you pretending to be from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) or other government services such as myGov

It’s okay to pause and check. You don’t have to respond right away.

How can you Protect Yourself?

• Don’t Share personal information
  Scammers may pretend to be from the ATO or a tax agent. If someone contacts you by email, phone, or SMS asking for personal or payment information, don’t share anything – it’s safest to hang up or delete the message. Instead, go to the official website and call the number listed there to ensure your speaking with the actual organisation.

• Add extra security to your accounts
  Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for important accounts like your email, bank, social media, and any system that stores personal or customer information. It’s a simple way to keep your accounts safer. Learn how to set up MFA at cyber.gov.au

• Visit websites the safe way
  Always type the web address into your browser yourself. Avoid clicking on links in emails or texts, even if they look real.

• Trust your instincts
  If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Take a moment to pause and check. If you get a suspicious message, don’t click on any links – just delete it.

Not Sure? Ask First

If you’re unsure whether a message or call is real, it’s okay to ask someone you trust or contact the ATO or myGov directly. You’re not alone – many people get these messages.

Scam Alert – July 2025: Scam Text Message Impersonating Latitude

We have received reports of scam text messages pretending to be from Latitude. These messages claim that your mobile number has been updated and ask you to visit a fake website to restore the previous number.

What should I do?

If you received an unexpected text message from Latitude, please ignore it and delete it from your device.
Remember – don’t click on any links or share personal information if the contact was unsolicited. Should you have shared any personal details or responded to such a scam, please contact Latitude right away.