- Scamwatch and the ATO issued a joint reminder on 26 June 2026 about ATO and ‘myGov’ impersonation, ahead of tax time.
- The ATO number given in the alert is 1800 008 540.
- From 1 July 2026, a text from a business or organisation should show a branded sender ID; unregistered ones show as ‘Unverified’.
- We did not find a Scamwatch alert naming Service NSW or toll operators, so this page does not claim one.
What the alert describes
The 26 June 2026 alert says scammers make phone calls, send fake emails, texts or messages, and create fake websites that look like the real thing. They create a sense of urgency to manipulate people into clicking links to fake websites or downloading harmful attachments. They may also urge you to call a number that connects you to the scammer. The communications use official logos, branding and language. The alert says the scammers may then use your stolen personal information, including your myGov sign-in details, to commit fraud in your name, and that all Australians are at risk, including people who are not required to lodge a tax return.
The reason this belongs on a licence and document site is the last part of that sentence. A myGov login can open the door to other government services, and identity details taken in one scam are used in the next. A text that asks you to “verify your identity” to keep a service is not about a service at all.
Warning signs, as Scamwatch lists them
- An unexpected request for personal or financial information, especially with a sense of urgency.
- An unsolicited message with a link that claims to be from the ATO. The alert says the ATO will never do this.
- A link that wants you to sign in to your myGov account.
- Sender details that do not match the real agency and do not end in .gov.au.
Stop, check, protect
- Stop. Do not rush. Do not click links in unexpected messages or share passwords, one-time codes or financial information.
- Check. Contact the ATO through its official app or website, or call 1800 008 540, to see whether the contact is real. Scamwatch’s text-message guidance adds: do not reply using the number in the message; call the organisation back on a number you found yourself.
- Protect. If you shared money or personal information, act quickly. Contact the ATO on 1800 008 540 to help protect your ATO accounts, then follow the paid-a-scammer steps.
The sender ID change
Scamwatch’s text-scam page says that from 1 July 2026, when you receive a text from a business or organisation it should be branded with their name in the sender ID. Branded sender IDs are words that appear instead of a phone number, such as ‘MyGov’ at the top of the message screen. Text sent using unregistered sender IDs will show as ‘Unverified’, and those messages are grouped in a single thread. Scamwatch advises treating anything ‘Unverified’ with caution. The rule helps, but it is not a guarantee, so the other advice stands: never click links in messages, and search for the website yourself or use the organisation’s own app.
How this connects to licences
A scam text that mentions your driver licence, a fine or a renewal is built the same way as the myGov one. We have not found a Scamwatch alert for a licence-specific text, so we do not describe one. The general guidance holds: government agencies you deal with have an app or a website you can open yourself. If a message sends you to a link, close it and open the agency’s site from your own bookmarks. Our state directory lists the right addresses.
If you clicked
Scamwatch’s text-message page says to contact your bank or card provider immediately, ask them to stop any transactions, and change passwords on all your devices and online accounts, including banking, email, government and shopping. IDCARE will help you make a plan for free. If you gave a one-time code or your myGov password, change the myGov password from the official site, not from a link in a message.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a myGov text is real?
Do not judge by the message. Scamwatch advises never clicking links in messages and signing in only by searching for the site or using the organisation’s own app. From 1 July 2026, genuine business and organisation texts should show a branded sender name; unregistered ones show as ‘Unverified’.
Does the ATO send links by text?
Scamwatch’s alert says an unsolicited message with a link that claims to be from the ATO is a warning sign and that the ATO will never do this.
What do I do if I clicked a link?
Contact your bank or card provider immediately, change passwords on your accounts, and call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. If your ATO or myGov details may be exposed, call the ATO on 1800 008 540.
Who can I call to check a message?
For the ATO, 1800 008 540 as given in the alert. For other agencies, find the number yourself on their official website rather than using the one in the message.
Where do I report a scam text?
Through the Scamwatch report-a-scam page. If you lost money or identity details, also tell your bank and IDCARE.