The ATO is aware of the recent Optus data breach and that people who have been affected might be concerned about their personal data, and is assuring people that ATO systems have not been affected by the Optus data breach.
The ATO recommends that anyone who thinks they have been affected by the Optus data breach should contact Optus Customer Service on 13 39 37.
Information for those caught up in the data breach is available from the Australian Cyber and Security Centre ('ACSC') at cyber.gov.au.
If a person's identity has been stolen, they can apply for a Commonwealth Victims' Certificate. The ATO takes data security extremely seriously and has a number of safeguards and systems in place to protect taxpayers.
The ATO also reminds the community that it is important to always be vigilant for suspicious activity. The following tips can help protect accounts and keep personal information safe:
Anyone wanting to make a privacy complaint should contact Optus and, if they are unable to resolve their complaint with Optus, they can lodge a complaint with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Ref: ATO website, Online services, Identity security and scams, 6 October 2022
Visit the ATO website for more information.