(02) 6100 3019 - 0261003019: Local landline number in Canberra, ACT 2600

Was contacted by adam who claims to be from tax office scammers.

SCAMMERS! had a missed call from this number, left a message that says something about an incorrect lodging of tax.

Just got the same thing but on a new number.0261008401. Pretty suss, and your other experiences confirmed it.

Just got a call from this number. He asked for my bank card details to update the ATO information.

He had zero phone skills. Bells rang crazy. Be careful.

Same call here - computer voice, John Smith from the ATO Tax Crime Division. SCAM.

Had a call from a Ray Hamilton working with the ATO. Very strong almost unintelligible accent - American-ish. Hard to understand what he was saying - very bad phone noise and dropouts.

Slightly different number this time 02 6100 3078.

I also received a call from this number and was told it was John Smith from the ATO Tax Crime Division. I looked the number up and saw this thread! Thank goodness it is a scam.

Same same same. This seems to be a wide scale operation that's going on. I missed their call, but they left a message saying they are from Australian Taxation Office. They were calling me about an issue. It's about time our authorities and telcos ramp up their investigations and use their powers to protect our networks and privacy from cyber terrorists and prosecute serious scammers.

Was called about 9:30am today 26th August on my mobile. Similar scenario to everyone else except the call broke up and I didn't hear it clearly. Thought it was likely a scam however the display of what looked like a local number intrigued me. I called the number and was answered by what sounded like a Chinese guy. I challenged him that it was a scam and then he hung up. I called the ATO who confirmed it is a scam and they advised I check with my telephone company because often the scam also involves being diverted to an overseas number even though a local number is displayed - which means potentially a huge bill. I called my Telco who confirmed I was only charged a local call cost. They confirmed it was an Australian number. I have placed a report with Scamwatch. I encourage everyone to share their experiences and lodge a complaint to their Telco etc.

Absolutely 100% this is an ATO scam. So upset. I'm a tax lawyer. I called and said 'how can I help you' and he said do you have a lawyer and I said 'how can I help you' and he hung up.

I also got the robot message call from this number and called the number back. The guy asked what number I had called from. They had my name and my old address from a few years ago and wanted $1.899 for tax errors 2008-2012... they said they had sent three letters and I asked to get a copy of the letters. The guy said I had to pay the money and they would then send letters. I said it didn't make sense that they would send letters to an old address, when I have my current address on file. I asked to speak to someone else as I wasn't getting any answers and they were being very threatening, talking about how I should get an attorney because I would have police knocking on my door! They "supervisor" sounded the same as the last guy and eventually hung up. I was really worried and called the ato, phew, glad it was a scam... I was really worried!

I got the same call about an hour ago..... Googled and found this. I think AFP need to be called to put an immediate stop to it. I fear many will fall victim to this scam.

Got the call with same scripted funny voice. The haste in the message prompted me to lookup the number before doing anything else.

After finding these helpful posts, I did call them back to have a nice conversation with supposedly an ATO officer but the number was engaged.

I called them to find out what information about me these scammers had as one of the poster mentioned they knew their previous residential address. That is scary!

Just received a computer generated message from this bloody no. And when I rang back, it was James Martinez with a strong indian accent. Lol. Same garbage saying hes ringing from the ATO tax crime division and read me some garbage fraud code and asked to pay thousands. I kept asking him questions and apparently he couldn't take the heat and hung up. Bloody f*kers.

I received this call(already commented) and have since found this should NOT be reported to Crime Stoppers. This is not their thing and it will just be harrassing them.

Instead report the scam to SCAM WATCH.

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Sam as other, computer generated voice from ATO blah blah blah...

Same. George Walton from ATO telling me I'm being taken to court over $2000 found owing from a taxation audit. If I wanted to settle out of court I could do so by credit card right then or else I would have to go to court.

Similar as other comments. Answered the phone to a computerised automated voice telling me he was from the ATO and I needed to call that number.

Judging by the other messsages here I suspect it would lead to a conversation requesting immediate payment via credit card.

This is not the real deal.

Obviously having a busy day today... Same call, computer generated voice reading out a script saying calling from ATO Tax Crime Division, walk away from your desk and call this number now, if you or your attorney don't call I can only wish you good luck for what is about to unfold. Said it was officer John Smith... Obviously a scam.

Same deal as everyone else here with this phone number.

Just got a call from this number same message as everyone.

Same story. Got a call from this number but let it go to vm and listened to the unrealistic computer generated message which didn't bother me at all. I added the number to my blocked list; problem solved ☺.

Missed a call from this number, though they left a voice message. Spoken extremely aggressively and quickly, I could barely make out what the man said. But was told I "needed to walk away from my desk if at work, as this is an extremely urgent matter from the ATO". I couldn't catch the return number as it was said SO quickly, but luckily it was on my caller ID. When I had a chance I rang the number back and spoke with "Officer Ray Hamilton with the ATO; badge number 23894". Said I owed x-amount of dollars from improperly filed taxes from 2009-2012; that notices had been sent to my address (which WAS a prev address of mine). After a back and forth conversation, where he was extremely threatening and aggressive, and I kept requesting some sort of statement in writing in order that I could clarify this and follow-up, he said that if I chose not to pay over the phone via CC right then, that I would need to hire a lawyer and the police would come to my door (which I no longer live at the address they held) to serve me a warrant... Blah blah blah. For anyone less skeptical than I am, I can see how this scam would have EASILY worked. However... After hanging up on the guy, I googled this number... And am not at all surprised to see ALL these posts regarding this number. I'm going to share this page all over Facebook just to inform others.

UPDATE - whilst I was composing this, I received the same recorded voice message again. This scammer is really at it today!

I just received a missed call from this number too and they left a vmail saying it was the ATO fraud department. It was all in a computerised voice.

100% scam - recorded message from ATO, computer generated voice ""if I don't hear back from you then I wish you good luck as the situation unfolds on you." nice try.

I just had this call, when he tried to confirm my address and I said sorry WHERE are you calling from, he said good day maam and hung up!

Just got a call from them and reported to Crime Stoppers.

Similar to the other comments. Received a call from 02 6100 3019 out of the blue from someone calling himself "Ray Hamilton" and claiming to be from the ATO. Basically he told me I have a "legal complaint" against me. I missed the call, but he left a voicemail message. Pretty brazen, eh! Anyway be aware, and thanks for the other comments confirming my suspicions. His voice had an American type of accent, but sounded more like someone from a non-English speaking background. A bit like many of the off-shore call centre voices. Probably had an American English teacher when he learnt English.

I had this number come up on my phone and let it go through to voicemail as I didn't recognise it. The voicemail left was a computerised voice saying it was from the ATO Tax Crime Division. I thought it was quite strange, and then twigged it must be a scam when the closing remark on the message was something like "if I don't hear back from you then I wish you good luck as the situation unfolds on you.".

Judging by this thread it seems a few folks have been hit up by this scam today.

Same bs with me. I called the police and reported the fraud.

Just got a call from this number saying I had committed Tax fraud, without any prior communication from the ATO.

When I asked where he was from he stated ATO in a very warped voice. When I asked where he was positioned in Australia, he stated he was in Caberria, Canberra with an I!

Tax fraud... PHONE FRAUD. BE AWARE.

Also just got the call, claiming I have a tax compliance issue and a compliant had been made. When I asked him for his company name, he told me the ATO, so again googles number and found this. Fraud!!! As I have just finalised all my tax and accountant confirmed all good.

I have received a number of these calls on my landline and had my first call on my mobile this morning. After the first call that I received on my landline, I immediately called the ATO given that I am a stay at home parent who hasn't needed to lodge a tax return in 5 years and the ATO confirmed it was a scam that was being investigated and he checked my TFN whilst I was on the call and confirmed that all was clear with no complaints or overdue/unpaid taxes. I would encourage people to call the ATO prior to paying out any amount of money, so many people have already been scammed for something that could easily have been avoided by getting in touch with the ATO. The ATO also advised me that the other scam that is currently circulating is asking people to report to their nearest police station and while they are out, their homes are being broken into.

I submitted my tax last night so when I seen some missed calls from this number I googled it and seen this forum. I called back and the man on the other line was trying to get info out of me, if my missed calls were landline or mobile, my number etc. I wouldnt give him the details until he told me what company he was calling from. He told me it was for a competition and I needed to complete a survey. Might be something to do with submitting the tax form or details...

These guys have been pestering me! Mine wasn't about tax it was about a competition that I supposedly went in and they needed to do a survey. The guys was very rude so I hung up!! I have blocked them on all different numbers, would be great if anyone knows how to block it forever?

I got a call today, voicemail saying I'm being investigated for tax fraud and if I don't call back they won't be responsible for what happens next. Thanks forum for this feed.

I would say anything like this, you should request a statement from the ATO by calling them direct! Pretty hairy stuff though. Low life.

They called me and brought it to my attention that I had a complaint on my name for fraudulent tax activity in 2008. I don't think I would have been up to such when I was 11 years of age.

I just received a call along the same lines that everyone else has described. It starts with a computerised voice saying that 'your number has been rung because you have been accused of tax crime". When I called back I said that I had not received any documentation in the mail, and the first that I had heard of this crime was 10 minutes ago. He tried to put a whole lot of pressure on me to settle an amount of $3.130 right now to avoid going to criminal court. I said that I'd done all my tax returns through an accountant and he hung up. I called my accountant and they were able to check any official letters that have been sent from the ATO, and no surprises there were no letters issued from the ATO for tax crime, and no amounts owing (apart from HECS!). A very sophisticated scam.

I just got the call as well, He had me going only because I knew I had an issue with the tax year he mentioned (coincidence? or do they actually have that info?) - anyway he had me going for a good few minutes until I put him on speaker and started googling the phone number and found this! This one was executed very well and I could easily see people falling for it!

Be careful out there, scum humans exist!

Yeah, just got the exact same call few minutes ago...

Sound pretty suspicious.

Just got this call twice. I'm in Victoria.

Jsut got the same call a moment ago. Glad I checked here!

Same call. No answer. Felt strange so I looked up the number and saw this. He said in the message that if I didn't call back that he wished me good luck with the events as the unfold on me -- strange.

I got the same call and was very sceptical as the voice is like a robot. An officer Johnston wanted me to call back as soon as I recieved the message. Glad I checked here also. Although no one can confirm it is a scam can they ?

I just got the ATO call from this number saying I should get a criminal lawyer. I asked to speak to his supervisor and he hung up. Fair Trading have confirmed a flux of similar pranks - so just hang up if it happens to you!

I got the exact same message, won't be calling back!

Don't call this back, and don't call the number they read out (amazingly rapidly) to you. Scam.

I just received this phone call as well. After checking here, nice to know I am not the only one.

Just received a call from this same number. It was "John Smith" who left the message.

I just got the exact same message, but I had officer John Smith lol I haven't called back and don't intend too, this gets me so mad,

Got this call as well. Looking forward to playing with the scammers as the ATO hasn't had anything submitted this year so far from me. Will be a good laugh if I can actually get through to them.

100% scam - don't call them back if you're going to give real details.

I got the call today and called back. Man said (with a heavy south american / indian accent) that he is from the Australian Tax Office in Canberra. He suggested there was an issue with my tax filing. As soon as I asked to speak to his supervisor because I don't think it's a legitimate call, he said I should hang up and wait for the Police who will arrive in 45 mins. Why would the Police be involved in an ATO matter?

Someone just called me from this number, and the message they left in the voicemail is the same as someone described above.

To be honest it sounds like scam straight away to me, but just call back to be save. The operator asked me for my name, and I am just surprised he got my old address without me telling him.

Our personal information must be leaked from somewhere/websites for them to run this scam. Do not bother returning call to this number if you got a call from this number.

I just got the same call, he asked for my full name and then said my address and then mention I had a x next to my name and have I been contracted by the police as soon as I said wtf I dunno what your talking about his like wait let me check the details ill call you back and never did..

Got this call today. Obviously a scam, but I am just about to travel O/S and had a few tax issues this year, so called it back before I realised... As soon as he said he was calling me from the US, the phone dropped out. He also used my nickname, not full name, which is always the give away.

This message is from Australian Taxation Office calling for you. The issue at hand is extremely time sensitive. So the very second you receive this message I need you to leave your work aside and dial the number to the ATO Tax Crime Division. The number is 0261003019. Repeat. The number is 0261003019. This is Officer George Walton and I am working with ATO Tax Crime Division. Now, if you fail to return the call or in case if I don't hear from your attorney either, then the only thing which I can do is wish you a good luck as the situation unfolds on you.".