Hackers Attack Taxpayers in Australia, Sending Fake ATO E-mails

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has issued a warning against a phishing campaign which has been running since the starting of June 2009.

It has been found that the bogus ATO mail, which assures a bonus of $250 on top of a tax return, takes the taxpayer to an online form that demands private information like tax file number, ATM pin and credit card details.

Instead of asking the user to submit the form online, the bogus mail asks him to take a print out of the form from the site and then post it to the ATO office address as mentioned in the scam mail.

This is indeed an advanced move taken by the hackers to dodge online security officials. Commenting on this developed move, Managing Director of Symantec's Australia and New Zealand 'Craig Scroggie' tells that phishers behind this phishing campaign steal the information of the user when the print button is pressed, enabling them to access the accounts of the taxpayers, as reported by brisbanetimes on June 26, 2009.

Mr. Craig claims that they attack a recognized and reputed brand. Hence, the users do not suspect that they can be a victim of ID theft or are loosing their details.

In the meantime, ATO has cautioned the general public that they never send any mails which demand for private details or tax file numbers.

Moreover, ATO officials have advised tax payers that if they have already entered their private information in the alleged mail from ATO, then they should immediately contact the tax office.

Security researchers suggest that people should confirm such claims over the telephone with the concerned institutions, banks, govt. agencies and service providers.

At last, the ATO suggests that the user should delete the scam mail immediately and to be careful.

Trend Micro, an online security firm, have disclosed some other upsetting statistics. As per the firm, the amount of phishing attacks connected with the ATO mail has augmented with a maximum number of them was reported around June 18, 2009.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 7/6/2009