Scamwatch and the Australian Taxation Office are alerting Australians to a rise in impersonation scams as tax time approaches, with criminals making phone calls, sending fake emails and texts, and creating counterfeit websites designed to steal personal information and myGov login credentials.

The scammers use official logos and branding to appear legitimate, create a false sense of urgency to prompt clicking on malicious links, and may urge victims to call numbers connecting them directly to the fraudsters. All Australians, including those not required to lodge tax returns, are at risk.

Scamwatch advises people to ignore unexpected requests for personal or financial information, never click links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from the ATO, and verify any contact by calling the ATO directly on 1800 008 540 or using the official website or app. Anyone who has shared money or personal information should contact the ATO immediately.