As we approach the holiday season, a period marked by increased online activity, it is paramount to remain vigilant about identity protection. John Ford, ATO Deputy Commissioner and Chief of the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT), has highlighted a concerning uptick in the rate and magnitude of identity thefts perpetrated by criminals for fraudulent purposes.
“Global threats, organised crime, the use of artificial intelligence and increased data breaches in the community all mean the risk of fraud is only growing…” Ford observed, concluding “The ATO has acted decisively to help people protect themselves. Security upgrades launched this week will add extra layers of protection for those taxpayers who log in to ATO online services using the myGovID service…”
In response, the ATO has introduced significant security enhancements. Commencing this week, these upgrades will fortify the myGovID service, a pivotal access point for ATO online services, with additional protective measures.
Ford emphasises the importance of proactive steps in safeguarding one’s identity:
- Initiate Protection: Secure a myGovID, if you haven’t already, ensuring it’s configured to the highest security tier available.
- Integrate Accounts: Link your myGovID with your existing myGov account.
- Secure Access: Utilize your myGovID for all future logins to access ATO services online, establishing a new baseline for identity verification strength.
Ford assures, ” From that point on, you’ll need to use your myGovID to log into ATO online services. The identity strength you have used will now become the minimum level needed whenever you log on in the future…”
We urge our clients to adopt these reinforced safeguards promptly to mitigate the risk of data compromise. Should you require guidance in updating your ATO access protocols, our team is ready to provide assistance.
Source: https://www.ato.gov.au/media-centre/ato-launches-new-protections-against-rising-tide-of-fraud