Protect your personal identifying information

Your personal identifying information (PII)

To commit identity crime or fraud, scammers only need some of your PII, this may include:

• full name
• date of birth
• current address
• myGov and ATO online login details
• tax file number (TFN)
• passwords
• bank account numbers
• credit card details
• driver's licence details
• passport details.

They can use this information in a variety of ways, such as to commit refund fraud in your name, access your myGov account to steal your tax refund, steal your superannuation or sell your identity to organised crime groups on the dark web or via other means.

If you suspect your personal information, such as your TFN, has been stolen, misused or compromised, phone the ATO as soon as possible on 1800 467 033 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. The ATO can investigate and place extra protection on your ATO account.

Protect Yourself

Our top tips to keep your personal information safe are:

1. Don't give out your PII to anyone unless you've verified that the person you're speaking with is who they say they are and has a legitimate need to know your details.
   
   
2. Think before you click on a hyperlink or open an attachment. Scammers often use these methods to steal your PII or plant malware on your devices.
   
   
3. Always access online services by directly typing the URL into a browser, not by clicking on a link.
   
   
4. Protect your Tax File Number (TFN) - only give your TFN to organisations or people who have a legitimate need for it, such as your tax agent, current employer or bank. It's important to verify that the person you're giving your TFN to is who they say they are.
   
   
5. Never share your password/s. Consider using passphrases instead of passwords, a password manager can help you generate or store passphrases. You should also consider updating them regularly.
   
   
6. Keep your device/s up to date. Scammers can use viruses, malware and programs to access or steal your personal information on your devices including phones, computers and tablets.
   
   
7. Add an extra layer of security by enabling multifactor authentication. If scammers obtain your password, it will be significantly harder for them to access your account.

For top cyber security tips for individuals, visit Top cyber security tips for individuals. You can also set up Voice authentication to help protect your tax account and reduce the chance of scammers accessing it

More information on securing your devices is available from the Australian Cyber Security CentreExternal Link.