Incidentally, ACTRO provides the administrative services for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government's tax earnings.

States the scam electronic mail, after an upgrading exercise of the ACT computers as also an examination of ACT's records, it has been determined, based on the recipient's previous 7-years' tax returns and payments, that he has paid in excess of $178.25.

The e-mail further states that since a large sum of refunds are pending in favor of the recipient, the latter must fill out a given attached application, a task in which the helpline phone number can little assist. It then adds that after the application is submitted, the reimbursement process may extend over a maximum of 6-weeks telling that the user requires filling out the online form accurately.

Meanwhile, the fraudulent phishing e-mail directs the recipient to provide the maiden name of his mother, his passport and driver's license numbers, his credit card particulars as well as other personal information.

Moreover, owing to the scam, ACTRO issued an alert online telling that the latest e-mails are a fake therefore they must be ignored as also users mustn't view the attachment claiming to have the online application.

But, incase anybody has filled out the form, he must contact ACTRO instantly.

Furthermore, the Office recommends that consumers must be very careful with any e-mail asking for their bank details or other personal information and shouldn't reply to it unless they're sure about its source. ACTRO doesn't disburse refunds through electronic mail except if there's already been an interaction, the agency adds in its alert.

Meanwhile, specialists on Internet safety remark that scammers know it's time for filing returns, so they're exploiting the opportunity for perplexing consumers through phishing e-mails.

Consequently, they've outlined certain security suggestions such as one must become alert when any agency requests to provide personal information and also he must routinely examine his bank and/or credit card statement that no unauthorized transaction has occurred.