Fake Job Ad, Real myGov Takeover: Five Years in Jail

The interview was over the phone. The job offer came by email. The paperwork asked for a licence scan, a tax file number and bank details, and the job did not exist.

By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 12, 2026

A job application is one of the few times people willingly hand over their most important identity documents to someone they have only just met. In this Australian case, that habit was the weak point.

What happened

The ATO release says a man ran a fake online job scam between August 2015 and July 2016. He was sentenced to five years' jail for 106 offences in Brisbane District Court on October 4, 2019.

He used the applicants' details to create myGov accounts or take over existing ones, linked them to ATO online services and lodged false returns. Sixty-two fraudulent returns used the identities of 52 taxpayers.

How it worked

He conducted fake phone interviews and then emailed applicants to say they had been successful. They were asked to send scanned driver's licences, bank account details and tax file numbers, which a new employer might plausibly request.

Refunds from the fraudulent returns were directed to one of 63 bank accounts that he controlled. The man claimed $565,895, and $378,099 was stopped by bank anti-fraud measures working with the ATO and Queensland Police.

What was exposed

A licence scan, a tax file number and bank details are a nearly complete set for impersonating someone to a tax system. Those documents are normally given only to a genuine employer, which is why the offer of a job was such an effective cover.

How it ended

The man was jailed for five years. Most of the money claimed was stopped before it reached him, according to the figures in the release, which is a better result than many fraud cases. But 52 people had their identities used, and the release does not describe what they had to do to restore their records.

A timeline of the case

The offences ran from August 2015 to July 2016, and the sentence came on October 4, 2019, more than three years after the last of them. The ATO release was timed for Stay Smart Online Week, which is intended to raise awareness of online scams.

That gap is typical. A fraud that takes months to commit can take years to prosecute, and during that time the people whose identities were used may have to prove who they are to several agencies.

Key facts at a glance

• Sentence: five years' jail for 106 offences
• Sentencing date: October 4, 2019, Brisbane District Court
• Offence period: August 2015 to July 2016
• False returns: 62, using 52 people's identities
• Claimed and stopped: $565,895 claimed; $378,099 stopped
• Bank accounts used: 63

Why this case matters

It shows that the most dangerous moment can be one that feels positive. A person who is excited about a job is less likely to question requests for documents.

The case also shows the value of institutional checks. A large share of the money was stopped because banks and the tax office worked together. Individuals cannot see those checks, but they can make the thief's job harder by being careful about who receives their documents.

What you can do

Red flags in a job offer

Some warning signs appear in almost every fake recruitment scam. The employer cannot be found through an independent search. The interview happens only by phone or text. The offer comes quickly, and the first request is for personal documents, not a contract. Any one of these is worth a pause. Together they are a reason to stop and verify before sharing anything.

What the release does not say

The release does not say how many applicants lost money themselves or how they were reached. For a rental scam that also used a convincing process, see the Victoria fake rental case.

Want to apply this to your own situation? These explain what to do if your identity is stolen, when to freeze your credit and how to prevent identity theft in plain language. You can also try our free find personal information exposed online.