Business Scams to Watch in 2025: What You Need to Know

Running a business is challenging enough without having to worry about scams. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are active all year round, looking for opportunities to exploit busy periods like tax lodgement, BAS reporting, or even peak sales seasons.

Here’s what your business needs to know to stay safe.

Common Scams Targeting Businesses

1. Fake ATO Emails and SMS Messages

Scammers often impersonate the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) through phishing emails and text messages. These may claim that:

• Your business has an overdue tax debt
• You’re entitled to a refund
• Your ABN is at risk of being cancelled

These messages typically include a link that leads to a fake ATO website, designed to steal login credentials or infect your system with malware.

How to stay safe:
The ATO will never send you a link via text or email asking you to log in or provide personal details. Always log in to official portals via ato.gov.au or your myGov account directly.

2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams

These scams involve cybercriminals impersonating a senior staff member or supplier and requesting urgent payments or changes to bank details – often around tax time when accounts departments are particularly busy.

How to stay safe:
Always verify any unusual financial requests through a second method (e.g. phone call or in-person confirmation). Implement multi-factor authentication and train staff to spot red flags.

3. Fraudulant Tax Agents or Bookkeepers

Scammers may pose as registered tax professionals offering to manage your tax lodgement for a fee, or worse, requesting sensitive business information under the guise of “assisting” with returns.

How to stay safe:
Always verify that your tax agent or bookkeeper is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB). You can search the register at www.tpb.gov.au.

4. Ransomware and Malware Attacks

Opening malicious attachments disguised as tax invoices, payroll summaries, or ATO statements can lead to ransomware infections that lock you out of critical business systems.

How to stay safe:
Ensure your business has up-to-date antivirus protection, a tested data backup strategy, and cybersecurity awareness training for all employees.

Tips to Protect Your Business

✅ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on ATO portals, cloud accounting software, and email accounts.

✅ Educate your team – especially finance staff, on how to spot suspicious emails, links, or unusual and urgent payment requests.

✅ Use a Password Manager to avoid reusing credentials across systems.

✅ Keep systems updated to reduce vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malware.

✅ Consult your IT provider to run a cybersecurity audit or conduct a phishing simulation.

Want help securing your business?

At TechPath, we work with Australian businesses to implement smart, proactive cybersecurity strategies including real-time protection, backup solutions, and employee training. Reach out today to safeguard your business before scammers get the chance.