What is the ATO impersonation scam and how do I report it?

ATO Impersonation Scam

The ATO (Australian Taxation Office) impersonation scam is a common fraud where criminals pretend to be ATO officials. They contact you by phone, email, SMS, or mail claiming you owe tax or have a refund waiting, then try to steal your personal or financial information.

Common Warning Signs

• Unexpected calls or messages claiming you owe money or have a refund
• Requests for immediate payment via gift cards, iTunes cards, or wire transfer
• Threats of legal action, arrest, or visa cancellation
• Requests for your tax file number (TFN), bank details, or passwords
• Urgent pressure to act quickly
• Poor grammar or spelling in emails

What the Real ATO Does

The ATO will never:

• Call demanding immediate payment
• Ask for payment via gift cards or iTunes cards
• Threaten arrest or visa cancellation by phone
• Ask for passwords or full TFN details unsolicited

The ATO may: Send official letters by post, contact you through your registered tax agent, or ask you to log into your myTax account to view messages.

How to Report

• Report to the ATO: Visit ato.gov.au and use their fraud reporting form, or call 1800 008 311
• Report to Scamwatch: Go to scamwatch.gov.au (Australian Consumer Law authority)
• Report to Australian Cyber Security Centre: Visit cyber.gov.au for serious cyber fraud
• Report to your bank: If you've shared financial details, contact your bank immediately

Protect Yourself

• Never give personal details to unsolicited callers
• Hang up and call the ATO directly on 1800 008 311 to verify
• Check your tax details through myTax or the ATO website
• Report suspicious emails to phishing@ato.gov.au

This is general information only. Check official sources before acting.