New scam offers tax refund
POLICE have warned about fraudulent email claiming to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offering recipients a tax refund of $210.75.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) spokesman said people received an official looking ATO email, which included the ATO insignia from an email address containing the information "@taxation.com , Subject: ID: 46 - Tax Refund Notice!"
The email advises the recipient to wait six to nine working days for the refund and are directed to click on a link which appears to start as a genuine "ato.gov.au" email address, but on closer inspection contains a "@hotmail.com".
Recipients are confronted with an authentic looking web page and required to enter an array of identity details and upload a scan of their driver's license. They are then redirected back to the "authentic" ATO website.
Police have warned this sophisticated attack was similar to a recent Telstra phishing email attack.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the State Crime Operations Command's Fraud and Corporate Crime Group said people still fell victim to scams everyday.
"It is also not uncommon for these phishing sites to infect their computer with a variety of malware, so it is vital people have up to date anti-virus systems," he said.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.
