Be aware of some emails that have been circulating lately claiming to be from ASIC and demanding payment to renew your business. If you receive one, do not open it. Just delete the email from your inbox or discuss the options with your Bookkeeper.
Ensure that you are confident of the source.
An email is probably a scam and is not from ASIC if it asks you:
- To make a payment over the phone
- To make a payment to receive a refund
- For your credit card or bank details directly by email or phone
- Pay fees that are different to the fees on our website
- ASIC notifications will come from the email address:
- ASIC.Transaction.No-reply@asic.gov.au
It’s sent at least 30 days before your renewal is due and is sent via email in most cases.
Below is an example of a legitimate email from ASIC sent to a business owner.
If the email the Business owner received contains the above information, it is not from ASIC.
How Can Business Owners Protect Themselves From Email Scams?
- Keep your anti-virus software up to date and run weekly anti-virus and malware scans.
- Be wary of emails that don't address you by name or misspell your details and have unknown attachments.
- Remove email access from people who no longer need it.
- Use a spam filter on your email account and don't click any links on a suspicious email.
- Secure your wireless network and be careful when using public wireless networks.
Business owners can also check their registration renewal date; ASIC will only issue a renewal notice 30 days before the renewal date. The search can be done on the ASIC Business name register and if it's outside the usual timeframe, it might be a scam. If you would like to notify ASIC of a potential scam email, you can forward the entire email to ReportASICEmailFraud@asic.gov.au.