Scams & fraud
How to tell a real myGov or ATO message from a scam
Tax refunds, Medicare rebates and “account suspended” warnings are some of the most copied messages in Australia, and they peak around tax time. The good news is that both myGov and the ATO follow strict rules about how they contact you. Once you know the rules, the fakes are much easier to spot.
The short version
The rules to remember
- myGov never sends a link in a text or email.
- The ATO won’t send an unexpected text with a link.
- Always type my.gov.au into your browser yourself.
- Check with the ATO on 1800 008 540 if you’re unsure.
How real myGov messages work
myGov does send you emails and texts, but only to tell you there’s a new message in your myGov inbox. Those notifications never include a link to sign in. Services Australia and the ACMA have both said this plainly.
So any text or email that looks like myGov and contains a link is a scam. It doesn’t matter how official it looks, whether it uses the myGov logo, or whether it lands in the same thread as genuine messages.
The safe habit: open a browser, type my.gov.au yourself, or use the myGov app, and sign in there. If there’s really something waiting for you, it will be in your inbox.
How real ATO contact works
The ATO does contact people by phone, email, text and letter. But it says it won’t:
- Send you an unsolicited text or email with a link asking you to log in to online services
- Threaten you with immediate arrest or deportation
- Ask you to pay a debt by gift card, cryptocurrency or a transfer to a personal account
- Ask for a fee to release a refund
The ATO can call you, but a genuine officer will be comfortable with you hanging up and calling back on a number you look up yourself.
Common scripts
| The message says | What’s really going on |
|---|---|
| “You’re owed a tax refund, claim it here” | A fake sign-in page collecting your myGov login and bank details. |
| “Your myGov account has been suspended, verify now” | Phishing for your username, password and security code. |
| “You have an unpaid tax debt and a warrant has been issued” | A pressure scam to make you pay by gift card or transfer. |
| “Update your details to keep receiving Centrelink or Medicare payments” | Identity theft, often followed by your payments being redirected. |
| “Your tax file number has been suspended” | There is no such thing. It’s a scare tactic. |
Tax time is peak season
Scams impersonating myGov and the ATO surge from July to October, when people are expecting refunds and lodging returns. Be extra careful in those months, and remind older relatives.
If you’re not sure
Don’t use anything in the message
No links, phone numbers or QR codes. Delete the message once you’ve checked.
Sign in yourself
Go to my.gov.au or open the app and look for messages. For ATO matters, sign in to myGov and open the ATO section.
Call the ATO to check
The ATO’s scam line is 1800 008 540 (8am to 6pm AEST, Monday to Friday). Look the number up yourself rather than trusting one you’re given.
Report it
Forward ATO scam texts or emails as a screenshot to ReportScams@ato.gov.au. Report fake myGov messages to reportascam@servicesaustralia.gov.au. You can also report to Scamwatch.
If you’ve already clicked or shared details
You entered your myGov sign-in details
Sign in at my.gov.au straight away and change your password, then check your contact details and linked services. Call Services Australia’s Scams and Identity Theft Help Desk on 1800 941 126. See our guide to securing your myGov account.
You paid money or gave your tax file number
Call the ATO on 1800 008 540. If you paid by card or transfer, call your bank too.
You shared ID documents
Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for a free recovery plan.
Common questions
The text says it’s from myGov and only says I have a new message. Is that okay?
A genuine notification tells you to sign in to myGov and check your inbox, without a link. If there’s no link, it may well be real, but sign in yourself to check rather than replying.
The caller knew my tax file number. Doesn’t that prove it’s the ATO?
No. TFNs and personal details are sometimes exposed in data breaches. Hang up and call the ATO yourself.
Can the ATO really take legal action against me?
The ATO does pursue unpaid debts, but through formal letters and processes, not threatening phone calls demanding immediate payment.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. If you think you’ve lost money or personal information, contact your bank and the services named above straight away.
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