Scam surge expected coming into tax time

By Ryan Bellingham

Jun 10, 2025

Scams are expected to ramp up across the country coming into tax time. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

CPA Australia, the country’s largest accounting body, is warning the public to be wary of scams ahead of tax time — particularly in the mornings.

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Tax scam emails, text messages and other communications are expected to flood phones and inboxes before June 30.

The Australian Tax Office has reported a 300 per cent increase in impersonation scam emails since last year, which are increasingly arriving overnight to catch people off-guard in the morning.

CPA Australia tax lead Jenny Wong advised having a morning coffee before opening emails and text messages.

“Scammers take advantage of any situation, and at tax time that means targeting unsuspecting individuals through unsolicited messages claiming to be the ATO or another reputable organisation,” she said.

“These ‘phishing’ scams not only look legitimate, but they’re designed to catch you off-guard.

“That’s why you’ll often see them arrive first thing in the morning because you may be more likely to have a momentary lapse in judgment.”

How to distinguish between legitimate and scam messages

CPA Australia says:

Look for grammatical errors, including American spelling of words.
The ATO does not use hyperlinks in unsolicited messages, nor QR codes.
Check an email sender’s address for anything unusual, such as extra letters.
Be wary of urgent, unexpected requests for personal information.
Check for profile verification from social media accounts claiming to be the ATO or myGov.
If unsure, contacts can be verified by phoning the ATO on 1800 008 540, or by visiting its official website.

According to the National Anti-Scam Centre, there has been a significant increase in scam losses in the first four months of this year.

Phishing scams — when scammers impersonate government agencies or financial institutions — have accounted for $13.7 million in losses.

Ms Wong said scammers would often try to create a sense of urgency, or make claims of offering significant tax refunds at this time of year.

“It’s crucial to see through the lies and review these communications with a clear mind once you’ve started your day and had a coffee or two,” she said.

Scam emails seen by CPA Australia include titles such as ‘Urgent new notification’, or have messages with links about ‘official government correspondence’.