A cybersecurity expert has delivered his insights into which tax-related scams are doing the rounds in 2022.
Avast cybersecurity expert Stephen Kho identified three prominent scams circulating at the moment:
- Fake tax preparers claiming they can do tax returns fast, and for a low price.
- ATO phishing scams used to trick taxpayers into giving them their sensitive information.
- Emails posing as the CEO, director, or a payroll provider known as ‘business email compromise’ scams.
“Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to steal your data, personal details or money through increasingly sophisticated scams and online threats – and the timely hook of tax time helps them seem more legitimate,” Mr Kho said.
To combat these three key scams, Mr Kho gave the following tips:
1. Fake tax preparers
The scam works by so-called tax preparers accessing your MyGov details. To combat this…
- Check that the tax preparer is registered on the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) at tpb.gov.au.
- Don’t share your MyGov password with anyone.
- Use two-factor authentication on your MyGov login – this consists of MyGov’s code generator app or opting to receive a verification code via SMS when logging in.
2. ATO phishing scams
These scammers go ‘fishing’ by impersonating a trustworthy source such as the Australian Tax Office.
Keep an eye out for unsolicited emails, calls or SMSs prompting you to input your details or make a payment. To combat this…
- Don’t click on links or…
