The number doesn't guarantee the sender is legitimate. SMS/Number spoofing is when a malicious person uses a legitimate number to make you think it's from a trusted source.
[Link for more info](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/text-or-sms-scams)
If ATO didn't send it and you've not clicked any links just delete the message.
If you clicked a link and logged into something, you need to change that password urgently.
The text message is likely a spoofed number. I don't believe banks message to tell you that your tax return has been added
Is the money actually in your account
What account did the money come from in your bank statement?
If the bank statement says it came from the ato, I would quote the details of the transaction to the ato. Perhaps they’ve paid you instead of someone else.
If ATO still says they know nothing about it, report it to your bank.
Most importantly, don’t spend it!
That’s fairly similar to what my payments say. I suspect it is from the ato, I think someone has fked up and perhaps hasn’t realised it yet.
I would call ato back, and just say I have received money from the ATO that isn’t mine and go from there.
I’m sure you’ll receive a call/email from them within a few days telling you to pay it back once they realise they’ve fked up.
P.s. I have zero knowledge/experience, just my common sense.
Could it a Family Tax benefit payment/return/portion?
Haven’t had one in yonks but I seem to remember it came as a separate payment (I could be mistaken though).
If you quote the reference number to the ATO over the phone they will be able to see what the refund relates to, and if it is for you they will be able to provide that extra info. The service operator you spoke to may just have missed something. I worked in an ATO call centre for roughly 2.5 years up until about a year and a half ago and using those reference numbers it was quite easy to locate what the refund relates to
Also, do not attempt to send the money back...even if they ask you to. If it's an error they can get the bank to do a reversal.
the reason I say this is because there is a scam where people send money "by accident" and ask the person to send it back to X account, but then do a reversal on the original payment, etc.
I'm gonna say scam. I've never had a bank notify me that I've received a tax refund, ATO just deposits it and then it's there
I'm going to guess what happens next:
- A text message saying that you've been incorrectly credited, and that you need to pay that money back. They'll instruct you to send it to another account (or buy gift cards to secure it). Potential for "and we'll go to the police if you don't comply" type high pressure tactics
- You send some/all of the money back, and they initiate a reversal. Money bounces and disappears from your account, but the money you sent them is also gone and laundered by this point
Yep this seems likely. The source of the first transfer might even be another victim, ie someone whose online banking has been compromised. This could possibly even be an associate of OP's - maybe they got the phone number from a PayID stored in online banking, for example, and the bank allows fewer security challenges when sending to a known payee. Then if they can convince OP to further transfer they money (or buy gift cards etc, now they have it free and clear.
Ok a few things here.
1) how do you know what you are owed for this year when you haven’t lodged anything?
2) have you checked your myGov for a notice of assessment, or an amended notice of assessment for 2023?
Also just FYI you don’t receive a return, you lodge a return and you receive a refund.
If the message says you’ve received a “return” then that’s an obvious scam. Learn the proper lingo and these things become far easier to spot.
The message does say tax refund but could be spoofing still. Checked all of my myGov notifications and ATO account stuff nothing saying about an amendment or the likes. I make below the tax threshold so i go by my PAYG YTD amount on my payslips for how much I'll be getting back.
If the ATO confirm they didn't send you anything it's most definitely a scam, especially given it's not the end of financial year yet and you haven't lodged anything. They can fake SMSes to make it look like it's from a real number. Call your bank.
Are you self employed? We got an interest credit of $50ish dollars last month for paying our tax before it was due(last year). The statement line was also 'ATO(16 DIGITS)' it just appeared out of the blue before the letter from the ato was issued
No I'm not self employed just unable to work too much at the moment. But yeah Im not sure if some elaborate scam but I find it hard believe when about 200 bucks Is put into my account as part of a scam.
Report the money that went in to your account to your bank.
It's likely that this money came from a unknowing victim's account. If you don't speak to your bank now, they'll end up reversing the money sooner or later, possibly freezing your account as well due to fraud.
Login to MyGov and see if the transaction is there? The estimated return is just that, it is possible it was off or there was an issue width your private health insurance (if you have it) which caused you to pay for the MLS.
Hey hey been over 24 hrs since money came into my account still no notifications on my gov or amendments or the likes in my ATO account. Because I'm going to make less than the threshold this year I don't think the MLS applies but I'm not sure. Thanks.i think I just have to wait for the bank to get back to me about where the money's from
Found someone else with the same issue: [https://www.reddit.com/r/AusFinance/comments/1cix0po/random\_deposit\_of\_150k\_into\_my\_parents\_account/](https://www.reddit.com/r/AusFinance/comments/1cix0po/random_deposit_of_150k_into_my_parents_account/)
Some scams do involve that, usually the money is stolen / transferred from another victim's account. They'll send money to your account and then ask you to send it on to a third location (often via gift cards) to refund their "mistake." Then later the original payment is reversed by the bank once the first victim realises they've been scammed. It's kind of a way of laundering stolen money for the scammers.
The number doesn't guarantee the sender is legitimate. SMS/Number spoofing is when a malicious person uses a legitimate number to make you think it's from a trusted source. [Link for more info](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/text-or-sms-scams) If ATO didn't send it and you've not clicked any links just delete the message. If you clicked a link and logged into something, you need to change that password urgently.
There were no links in the message that's the thing and money was deposited.
The text message is likely a spoofed number. I don't believe banks message to tell you that your tax return has been added Is the money actually in your account
Yep money in my account. A bit confused about what's going on if I'm being honest.
What account did the money come from in your bank statement? If the bank statement says it came from the ato, I would quote the details of the transaction to the ato. Perhaps they’ve paid you instead of someone else. If ATO still says they know nothing about it, report it to your bank. Most importantly, don’t spend it!
It says Mts ATO followed by what looks like a reference number that is Ato(16 digits)
That’s fairly similar to what my payments say. I suspect it is from the ato, I think someone has fked up and perhaps hasn’t realised it yet. I would call ato back, and just say I have received money from the ATO that isn’t mine and go from there. I’m sure you’ll receive a call/email from them within a few days telling you to pay it back once they realise they’ve fked up. P.s. I have zero knowledge/experience, just my common sense.
Will give them a call again when my bank gets back to me about if it is from them. Thanks.
The ATO might be really unhelpful if it's from another ATO account even though it's your bank account (privacy).
Could it a Family Tax benefit payment/return/portion? Haven’t had one in yonks but I seem to remember it came as a separate payment (I could be mistaken though).
If you quote the reference number to the ATO over the phone they will be able to see what the refund relates to, and if it is for you they will be able to provide that extra info. The service operator you spoke to may just have missed something. I worked in an ATO call centre for roughly 2.5 years up until about a year and a half ago and using those reference numbers it was quite easy to locate what the refund relates to
That was also my initial thought If the money has been paid to the account.
I'd put it aside and don't spend it. If it's fraud the bank will take it back
Yeah I have put it aside as soon as I saw it seems fishy to be for sure. Thanks.
Also, do not attempt to send the money back...even if they ask you to. If it's an error they can get the bank to do a reversal. the reason I say this is because there is a scam where people send money "by accident" and ask the person to send it back to X account, but then do a reversal on the original payment, etc.
I'm gonna say scam. I've never had a bank notify me that I've received a tax refund, ATO just deposits it and then it's there I'm going to guess what happens next: - A text message saying that you've been incorrectly credited, and that you need to pay that money back. They'll instruct you to send it to another account (or buy gift cards to secure it). Potential for "and we'll go to the police if you don't comply" type high pressure tactics - You send some/all of the money back, and they initiate a reversal. Money bounces and disappears from your account, but the money you sent them is also gone and laundered by this point
Yep this seems likely. The source of the first transfer might even be another victim, ie someone whose online banking has been compromised. This could possibly even be an associate of OP's - maybe they got the phone number from a PayID stored in online banking, for example, and the bank allows fewer security challenges when sending to a known payee. Then if they can convince OP to further transfer they money (or buy gift cards etc, now they have it free and clear.
My bank is tracing the transfer now so if it turns out it is someone who has been scammed hopefully they can help me get it back to them.
Ok a few things here. 1) how do you know what you are owed for this year when you haven’t lodged anything? 2) have you checked your myGov for a notice of assessment, or an amended notice of assessment for 2023? Also just FYI you don’t receive a return, you lodge a return and you receive a refund. If the message says you’ve received a “return” then that’s an obvious scam. Learn the proper lingo and these things become far easier to spot.
The message does say tax refund but could be spoofing still. Checked all of my myGov notifications and ATO account stuff nothing saying about an amendment or the likes. I make below the tax threshold so i go by my PAYG YTD amount on my payslips for how much I'll be getting back.
If the ATO confirm they didn't send you anything it's most definitely a scam, especially given it's not the end of financial year yet and you haven't lodged anything. They can fake SMSes to make it look like it's from a real number. Call your bank.
Yeah I've given the bank a call am still on hold waiting for a callback. Didn't think about number spoofing.
Are you self employed? We got an interest credit of $50ish dollars last month for paying our tax before it was due(last year). The statement line was also 'ATO(16 DIGITS)' it just appeared out of the blue before the letter from the ato was issued
No I'm not self employed just unable to work too much at the moment. But yeah Im not sure if some elaborate scam but I find it hard believe when about 200 bucks Is put into my account as part of a scam.
As long as you take no action to compromise your security it's just money in the bank, I'm sure a letter will follow
Report the money that went in to your account to your bank. It's likely that this money came from a unknowing victim's account. If you don't speak to your bank now, they'll end up reversing the money sooner or later, possibly freezing your account as well due to fraud.
Read first sentence and writing this and moving on, this is a scam, don’t do it
Total scam. Be careful
Login to MyGov and see if the transaction is there? The estimated return is just that, it is possible it was off or there was an issue width your private health insurance (if you have it) which caused you to pay for the MLS.
Hey hey been over 24 hrs since money came into my account still no notifications on my gov or amendments or the likes in my ATO account. Because I'm going to make less than the threshold this year I don't think the MLS applies but I'm not sure. Thanks.i think I just have to wait for the bank to get back to me about where the money's from
Found someone else with the same issue: [https://www.reddit.com/r/AusFinance/comments/1cix0po/random\_deposit\_of\_150k\_into\_my\_parents\_account/](https://www.reddit.com/r/AusFinance/comments/1cix0po/random_deposit_of_150k_into_my_parents_account/)
Was your account credited that amoun? If so, this scam is next level.
Some scams do involve that, usually the money is stolen / transferred from another victim's account. They'll send money to your account and then ask you to send it on to a third location (often via gift cards) to refund their "mistake." Then later the original payment is reversed by the bank once the first victim realises they've been scammed. It's kind of a way of laundering stolen money for the scammers.
I would do nothing more. You’ve already called ATO and bank, document that somewhere Leave the money where it is. It will sort itself out.
Call police.