With tax returns being on everybody's mind with the end of the financial year I thought that it was important to notify you about the latest scam that is doing the rounds TAKE CARE.

New fraudulent emails are circulating which pretend to be from the Australian Government. Using social engineering tricks the criminals behind these emails try to trick you into providing personal information as a pretext to receiving a tax refund. This personal information can be used by the criminals to steal your identity.

The subject of the email may contain wording the same as, or similar to:

 Australian Taxation Office

 Australian Tax Refund Agency

 Australian Taxation Office (backcharge)

The from line of the email may contain wording the same as, or similar to:

"refund@ato.gov.au" <refund@ato.gov.au>

"TAXE" <service@ato.gov.com.au>

"Australian Taxation Office" <support@ato.gov.au>

"support@ato.gov.au" <support@ato.gov.au>

This is a scam.

The emails may include links to web sites that attempt to trick you into supplying personal details.

Providing the information requested is likely to mean that your personal and/or business information may be accessed for fraudulent or illegal purposes.

What we recommend you do

If you receive an email similar to this one, do not reply or click on the links in the email.

If you have provided personal information that includes your credit card or bank account information in response to an email request regarding this matter, the information you supplied has been captured by a criminal. Please notify your bank and the Australian Taxation Office.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me on 1300 883 916 or email dbanks@barclaymis.com.au

Regards

David Banks

Barclay MiS Protect & Collect

"The Innovator NOT the Imitator"