Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

MyGov Scam Emails - How to Protect Yourself
MyGov Scam Emails - How to Protect Yourself

Official myGov communications will never contain hyperlinks or direct attachments. If you receive an email claiming to be from myGov or the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that includes a link to log in, view a refund, or unlock an account, it is a phishing scam. Scammers use these emails to harvest your login credentials, identity documents, and banking details.

Common myGov Scam Tactics

  • Account suspension threats: Claims that your myGov account is permanently locked or deactivated due to "suspicious activity".
  • Fake tax refunds: Offers of immediate payouts or tax returns, which peak significantly during tax season.
  • Secure message notifications: Phishing templates impersonating Medicare or Centrelink communications that request you to click a link to view your mailbox.
  • Urgent action requests: Messages creating a false sense of urgency to force you into acting without thinking.

How to Spot a Fake myGov Email

  • Contains web links: Real myGov notifications simply tell you to log in to your official dashboard manually; they never provide clickable links.
  • Suspicious sender domains: The email address may look legitimate at first glance, but checking the header reveals a non-government domain.
  • Generic greetings: The message rarely addresses you by your actual full legal name.
  • Requests for sensitive info: Seeking your Tax File Number (TFN), passport scans, or one-time SMS codes.

Immediate Actions to Take

  1. Do not click: Avoid clicking any links, downloading files, or calling numbers listed in the message.
  2. Access myGov safely: Go directly to the official myGov Website by typing my.gov.au into your browser, or open the official myGov app.
  3. Report the scam: Forward the suspicious email to the official Services Australia reporting address at reportascam@servicesaustralia.gov.au.
  4. Secure your account: If you entered details, immediately call the Services Australia Scams and Identity Theft Help Desk at 1800 941 126
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