CPA Australia, is urging the public to be wary of tax scam emails, SMS and other communications this tax time, including those that arrive in your inbox overnight designed to catch you off-guard in the morning. CPA Australia Tax Lead, Jenny Wong, said Australians should prepare for a deluge of scam activity in the lead-up to June 30 – and make sure they have their 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 judgement. “The scammers know Australians will have tax on their mind and are vulnerable to prompts to act, which is why these messages usually create a sense of urgency or claim of significant refund. "While they could come at any time, be especially careful opening up and reading messages while you’re still waking up in the morning. “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.” Data from the National Anti-Scam Centre shows a significant increase in scam losses in the first four months of 2025. The biggest increase in reported losses comes from phishing scams – where scammers impersonate government agencies and financial institutions – accounting for $13.7 million in losses, compared to $4.6 million in early 2024. Meanwhile the ATO says impersonation email scams have increased by more than 300 per cent from this time last year. Scam emails seen by CPA Australia include titles like: ‘Urgent new notification in your account inbox’. The messages direct individuals to log into their myGov account and claim to provide a secure link. These messages try to trick individuals to click the link to see ‘official government correspondence’, an ‘update regarding your benefits’, ‘a new refund notification’ or they need to click to ‘avoid being penalised’. They even encourage individuals to ‘keep checking your inbox to stay informed about important updates related to your tax, pension and other government services’.
