iscover ATO warns of JobKeeper email scam
RegulationA JobKeeper scam is now making its rounds around the community, with the ATO warning taxpayers not to readily disclose personal information.
The Tax Office has begun receiving reports of an email scam regarding the JobKeeper program and the backing business investment scheme.
The emails, which impersonate the ATO, claim that the taxpayer’s payment is being reviewed and request for copies of their driver’s licence and Medicare card to complete the verification process.
The ATO has advised taxpayers not to provide the information requested and instead to call the Tax Office to determine the legitimacy of the request.
“If you receive a message from the ATO asking for your personal information, phone us on 1800 008 540 to make sure it’s legitimate,” said the ATO in an online update.
This is not the first scam involving COVID-19 stimulus measures, with fraudsters previously ringing members of the public to ask them to provide their bank account details to receive the JobKeeper payment.
“Scammers are constantly developing new ways to steal from the community, and will often try to take advantage of people when they are most vulnerable,” said the ATO back in May when the scam was discovered.
“You can help us stop scammers in their tracks by warning your friends and family to stay alert.”
Jotham Lian
Jotham Lian is the editor of Accountants Daily, the leading source of breaking news, analysis and insight for Australian accounting professionals.
Before joining the team in 2017, Jotham wrote for a range of national mastheads including the Sydney Morning Herald, and Channel NewsAsia.
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