Fake tax refunds, bank messages and online sales scams surge before EOFY

LOCALS are being urged to stay alert as scammers ramp up activity ahead of the end of the financial year.

Fraudsters are targeting people through fake tax refund messages, bank impersonation scams and fraudulent online sales.

NGM Group, the customer-owned bank behind Greater Bank and Newcastle Permanent, is warning consumers to be cautious as they spend more time online managing finances, lodging tax returns, and searching for EOFY bargains.

Fraud operations manager Jason Veltruski said the period created ideal conditions for scammers because people were expecting communications from banks, government agencies, retailers, and delivery companies.

“At this time of year, Australians are actively looking for sales, lodging tax returns, checking invoices and responding to more emails and text messages than usual,” Mr Veltruski said.

“That creates an opportunity for scammers to blend in. A fake message about a tax refund, suspicious bank activity or a parcel delivery can easily look legitimate when you’re already expecting similar communications.”

Mr Veltruski said scammers were becoming more sophisticated in how they impersonate trusted organisations. Scammers were often found replicating logos, branding, and even phone numbers.

“We’re seeing scam messages and phone calls that look incredibly convincing,” he said.

“In some cases, people receive a text that appears in the same message thread as genuine messages from their bank. Others receive phone calls where the caller claims to be from a trusted organisation and pressures them to act immediately.”

“One of the biggest red flags is urgency. Scammers want people to panic, click quickly or hand over information before they’ve had time to stop and think.”

Common scams reported during the EOFY period include fake ATO refund or debt notices, bank impersonation messages, fake online shopping websites, parcel delivery scams, and fraudulent invoice requests.

“The best defence is slowing down, independently verifying communications and trusting your instincts if something doesn’t feel right,” Mr Veltruski said.

By Sis HIGGINS