Beware tax scam artists

recipients to receive a refund.

Apparently the form asks for online banking details, credit card numbers (and even credit limits) as well as your personal address. The Tax Office is warning not to click on or save any attachments as they may download malicious malware.

Above all, do not disclose the personal information the form is requesting.

Not surprisingly, many people are taken in by these scams, and in previous years up to 48,000 people have reported coming across these scams between the peak taxtime months of July and October.

Hundreds of Australians have collectively handed over millions of dollars to scammers with one victim losing $900,000 borrowed from friends and family. Others have handed over personal details such as tax file numbers, which can lead to identity theft.

In many cases, scam emails are easily spotted. Hover your computer’s mouse over the email address of the sender and it will show the true source.

Have a close look through the email, and you’ll typically find that scam messages are poorly written with some pretty obvious spelling mistakes.

The email may ask you to click what appears to be a link to the Tax Office website but when you hold the mouse over the link, it won’t have the official ato.gov.au address.

If you are unsure if a phone call or voicemail is from the tax man, call the Tax Office on 1800 008 540.

Paul Clitheroe is Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.