ATO warns against fake tax refund email

Australians are being warned to ignore a scam email claiming to be from the tax office and offering refunds.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has issued the warning, saying the email includes realistic-looking features - including the tax office logo - to make it look genuine.

Bogus emails sent to people have included the words "Notification - Please read" or "Australian Taxation Office - Please Read This" in the subject heading.

The email contains a link that directs people to a fake ATO website which then asks for credit card and personal details.

Anyone who receives the unsolicited emails claiming to be from the ATO should delete them immediately, Tax Commissioner Michael D'Ascenzo says.

"As an extra precaution we recommend you type internet addresses directly into your internet browser rather than clicking on links embedded in emails," he said in a statement.

Bogus sites are often hard to shut down because they are set up in multiple locations on the internet, making them difficult to track down.

Those who believe they may have fallen victim to the scam are urged to contact their credit card provider.