MailGuard Editor 22 October 2014 22:22:00 AEDT 2 MIN READ

MailGuard Breaking IT News: Fake ATO Tax Return Scam

Checking your emails at work, at home or on the go, here is the latest phishing email you need to be aware of.

Fake ATO Tax Return Emails

Isn't it great when the tax man owes you money? Not so great when a scammer tries to take your personal information! The email looks like a letter from the ATO telling the recipient they are entitled to a refund, and to click the link in the email.

ATO capture (blackout2)

As you can see, the link contains freebies365.co.uk which is clearly not a legitimate ATO website. Also note that the URL redirects to a UK website. Interesting that an Australian Government website would redirect to a UK one don't you think?

Once the link is clicked, the email recipient will be taken to another website that requests personal information.

ATO scam

As you can see this fake email has font, images and content obtained directly from the ATO website. We cannot stress enough that organisations like the ATO, Telstra or FedEx will never ask you to give personal information via email and by clicking a link, so don't click on it unless you are happy to give your hard earned money away.

There are many key identifiers for an email recipient to check when assessing if an email is a fraudulent one.

To find out more, take a look at our blog Don’t Click That! Your Guide To Cyber-attacks And Tips For Being Cyber Safe Within Your Business.