Identity criminals take other peoples’ details by:
stealing purses, wallets, mail, mobile phones containing identity details or during a burglary
pretending they are government, bank or other financial institution representatives seeking information
offering to complete a person’s tax return or other document that needs their personal details, or
using computer viruses or email phishing.
You could face financial problems if someone commits fraud or other crimes using your identity. You may also have problems getting a job, a bank loan or other credit, renting a house or a car, or getting government services or benefits.
Buying, selling or using other peoples’ identity details, including their tax file number (TFN), can result in heavy fines or jail.
Your TFN is a unique number we give you to help us manage tax and other government services. Your TFN will remain the same throughout your lifetime and keeping it secure is a good defence against identity theft.
It is not compulsory to have a TFN, however, without one:
your employer must take tax from your wages at the highest rate
financial institutions tax interest you earn at the highest rate
you can’t get an Australian business number (ABN)
the processing of your tax return will be delayed
it is more difficult for us to look up your records and discuss them with you, and
you may not be able to get government services or benefits.
Keep all personal details like bank account passwords and your TFN secure by:
not carrying them in your purse, wallet or storing them in your mobile phone
not sharing them with friends
not providing your TFN on the internet when applying for work
shredding or destroying documents containing identity details before disposing of them
installing up-to-date anti-virus software on your computer
only providing your identity details to trusted or reliable organisations, and
making sure if you use a tax agent to complete and/or lodge your tax return, that your tax agent is registered by checking on the Tax Agents' Board website.
Your TFN should only be used for taxation purposes. It should not be used or disclosed to establish or confirm your identity with other organisations.
The ID Theft Booklet – Protecting your Identity is available from the Attorney-General's Department website at www.ag.gov.au/identitysecurity
Case study 1
In September 2007 a man received seven years jail for using false identities and forging documents to create fake companies and lodge false activity statements. He was also handed a non-parole period of four years and three months and a reparation order for $502,023.
Case study 2
In December 2008, a man was sentenced to three years prison for lodging a series of GST refund claims using false identities. The man pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception. Over a five month period, he used false birth certificates to open bank accounts and a range of insurance policies. He then used these documents to apply for tax file numbers (TFNs) and Australian business numbers (ABNs). He will serve 15 months prison before being eligible for parole.
Case study 3
In September 2009, a man was sentenced to four years jail for using dead people’s identities to falsely claim baby bonuses and maternity immunisation allowances. From 16 June to 27 November 2008 he created false identities using private details from Medicare records and tax file numbers of dead people. The man pleaded guilty to 24 counts of obtaining a financial advantage through deception, one count of attempting to obtain another $10,000 through deception and one count of exporting proceeds of crime.
Keep your TFN secure to prevent becoming a victim of identity crime. It's one of your most important forms of identification in Australia and its misuse by another person can have serious implications for you.
Report the loss or theft of your TFN or other identity documents without delay.
Using another person’s TFN, misusing yours or allowing it to be used by others, and ‘buying’ or ‘selling’ a TFN are all serious crimes which can mean heavy fines or jail.
If you have legitimate access to other people's identity details, including their TFN, you must keep that information secure.
For more information on helping to prevent identity crime, refer to our Keep your TFN safe postcard. The postcard is also available in 13 languages.
You can get copies of the postcards from online ordering at any time. Take note of the reference number (NAT or JS number) before ordering the product.
Subscribe
