The ATO and Services Australia have issued a warning about a new email phising scam doing the rounds. The emails claim to be from “myGov” and include screenshots of the myGovID app. myGovID can be used to prove who you are when accessing Australian government online services.
The scam emails ask people to click a link to fill in a “secure form” on a fake myGov page. The form requests personal identifying information and banking details.
This scam is all about collecting personal information rather than gaining access to live information via myGov or myGovID. ATO systems, myGov and myGovID have not been compromised.
The ATO and myGov do send emails and SMS messages, but they will never include clickable hyperlinks directing you to a login page for online services.
If you’ve open an email that looks suspicious, don’t click any links, open any attachments or reply to it.
The best way to check if the ATO or another government service has actually sent you a communication is to visit the myGov site, my.gov.au, directly (without clicking an emailed link) or to download the myGovID app. You can then log in securely and check your myGov inbox and linked services.
If you’ve received a suspicious email and mistakenly clicked a link, replied and/or provided your myGov login details or other information, change your myGov password and if you’ve provided your banking details, contact your bank.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has recently advised it is aware of scams that target Australians and encourage them to establish self managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).
People are cold-called or emailed, and scammers pretending to be financial advisers encourage the transfer of funds from an existing super account to a new SMSF, claiming it will lead to high returns of 8% to 20% (or more) per year.
In fact, people’s super balances are intead transferred to bank accounts controlled by the scammers.
Scammers use company names, email addresses and websites that are similar to legitimate Australian companies that hold an Australian financial services licence, They even use a “legitimate” company to ensure the SMSF is properly established and compliant with Australian laws, including creating separate SMSF bank account set up in the investor’s name.
The scammers then transfer money from the existing super fund, either with or without the knowledge of the investor, and steal it by using the real identification documents the person has provided to setup the SMSF in an account fully controlled by the scammers.
If you’re contact by any person or company who encourages you to open an SMSF and move funds, you should always make independent enquiries to make sure the shceme is legitimate. This is especially true if you weren’t expecting the phone call or email!
Always verify who you are dealing with before handing over your identification documents, personal details or money.
The information contained on this website and in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser. Taxation, legal and other matters referred to on this website and in this article are of a general nature only and are based on our interpretation of laws existing at the time and should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice. Those laws may change from time to time.
Client Portal
View Comments