02 6152 8663: Scam Call from a Fake Tax Official

Yes I received a call from this number today and it appeared to be a recorded message from this bozo who went into lengthy threatening comments about tax evasion etc. This call came to my business number and we were busy, so I just hung up thinking it was a scam anyway. So later I googled the number and found all these comments. What an un-nice person he is and what a waste of space in society.

SUPPOSEDLY ATO WITH LOTS OF THREATS. DO NOT CALL BACK!!

I too had call this week stating I must call him back as this is serious issue regarding fraud and my tax.. Blah blah blah.

He has a sense of urgency and is quite threatening, strangely he ends the call with "have a nice day".

My elderly parents are receiving calls from this number which are dramatically escalating in aggression and threatening behaviours. Luckily my parents didn't fall for it and the last message went to voice mail so they didn't hear it. I hope no one gets sucked in by them....they're scum!

Just got a call and they left a message from ATO: 02 61528690. His name he claimed was John Mathtews (I think) saying I have been issued a court summons and that I should seek a lawyer for tax evasion.

I received a call from this number and from 02 6140 3471. Don't give any personal details, its a scam, although quite worrying to receive these calls.

'Robbie King' from the ATO/commonwealth prosecutor left message on both my mother's and my sister's phones this week - said must call back this number.... Sounded rather like the similar gentlemen with indian accents who call saying they are from microsoft and its about the virus on my computer.

These are definitely scams, if you are with Telstra you can call and ask them to block these numbers if they call you repeatedly as some of them do.

Do not ever give them your credit card details.

It is appalling that they are calling vulnerable people.

Purported to be from the ATO claiming we were guilty of fraud and needed to call them asap.

Yup I got "Robbie King" from the ATO today. Left me an important message regarding my Tax Evasion!! Said I could face serious legal issues if I don't respond. Wish we could get "Robbie King" to face some serious legal action. This one goes above the usual nuisance call!

Just got a call from this number, ATO problem, legal action against me etc etc.

Cleary a scam, but why can't this number be closed down quick smart? They have a phone number, that phone number must have an owner as its supplied by Telstra or whoever, a contract must have been signed by someone at some company.

Telstra, Optus.... You listening ?

I doubt police will want to know, not a priority I suggest,

I have received two messages to call Robbie King on 02 61528663 in the last week. Same content as above. The second time, I actually picked up the call and it was clear that a message was being played as the caller made no response to what I was saying.

I managed to find out from ACMA that this phone number and similar numbers listed in this thread are issued to a Telco wholesaler named 'Symbio Networks Pty Ltd'. I phoned them (02 99948555) to complain about one of their customers/users but was told that I'd need to complain to the Police as they not accept complaints from the public.

Yeah a Robbie King apparently from ATO left strongly worded, odd accented message about a lawsuit being filed against 'your' name. Found it odd that anyone from ATO would contact my partners older mother like this and then be so vague on details, not even mentioning her name. It's a scam to get your details, don't call them back.

Got the same message earlier this week. Scam artists.

My brother rang and they answered, when he questioned them and told them our dad had passed they hung up.

Obviously targeting the old and vulnerable.

OK, good info on this scam at SCAMwatch:

[link] and paste the link into your address bar, OR go to SCAMwatch, look on the top right for Quick Links, click on SCAMwatch Radar, scroll down to 'Telephone calls alleging fake arrest warrants used to scam money' and click.

You can also report this scam (or any others) to SCAMwatch online (see Quick links on the SCAMwatch home page) or by phone: 1300 795 995.

SCAMwatch also has links to other organisations that deal with scams:

[link] well as lots of info on types of scams and how to protect yourself.

This ATO scam has been going on since at least APRIL (on the SCAMwatch page they list only one phone number used by the scammers: 02 6100 3027).

I wrote a comment here a few days ago, and it and others are not showing up now, what's up with that?

Anyway, these are mass calls happening all across Australia for days now, targeting seniors, hospices, old people's homes (according to the tax guy)and some people have been scammed out of thousands.

I've had a second call, different man, different number given to ring - 02 6152 8675 - same aggressive tone, much the same script:

"Australian Taxation Office representing the Commonwealth Public Prosecutor in Canberra the reason I'm calling is because a legal lawsuit has been filed on your name by the ATO concerning tax evasion and wilful fraud. I want You or your retained attorney to call 0261528675 (Then repeats the number) Do not disregard this message and do call us back immediately.".

As others have said, the ATO would never contact you like this.

I spoke to the ATO after the first call, and basically they can do nothing, the guy said as the calls are coming from overseas they have no jurisdiction.

So please spread the word to everyone you know, not everyone has the internet or is familiar with these scams. The tax guy suggested ringing your local radio station and getting them to report it, for people not on the internet.

Yes I'm from Melbourne and Robbie King rang and after I hung up on him, he rang again later and left a nasty demanding message claiming to be from the ATO. The genuine ATO advises it's a scam.

I am a tax agent and had third client (in 1 week) ring regarding this scam. They are very aggressive, demanding and threatening. It is just that a scam.

I have been advising my clients through facebook, twitter and my web page and newsletters of these scams.

Same to me just now! He must be caught!!! Police should be informed for such a criminal. A few days ago, received a phone from "telstra" saying something on internet problem and ask me to "run" the WEB "www.cts111.tk" for repair. I stopped at the last step and the guy said to me "peace off".

I just received it on my voicemail too. Robbie king from ATO cranberra, luckily I Google the phone! It's a bl***y scam!!

I live in Sydney and was called today with the exact same message from this creep.

Got the same message on my answering machine today 27 May Hobart. He is getting around.

They same message from Robbie King was left on my answering machine today. I get so many of these type of calls that I googled the number first & sure enough came across this site with people saying the same comments as the message that was left for me.

A scam. A guy with some sort of Asian accent called 'Robbie King' from 'the ATO in Canberra' says the ATO is taking legal action against you for 'serious tax evasion'. It's fake. The ATO would send you letters, and only call as a last resort if the letters have not been responded to. The phone number for the ATO would normally start with a 13. Do not call back, and whatever you do, DO NOT GIVE BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION TO STRANGERS! No matter who they say they are, do not give banking information to strangers, always do your homework first to see if the person is legit.

I have received 2 messages left in the past 6 days on my house machine stating the same information. The first time I freaked out thinking it was real. Spoke with my mum and said a client told her the same thing at work the same day. My sister has also received 2 message on the exact same days as me.

Rang the ATO and they are well aware of this and that there so many different names and numbers been used. I was told that someone has paid them $10.000 without investigating if it was real.

If you get this message do not pay! Call ATO and see if the name they give you is on the list.

I now feel a lot better knowing that this is a scam and will not be calling them back.

I got the exact same phone call left on my answering machine today in Melbourne (27th May 2015). Guess he's moved on to VIC now.

Keep a whistle near the phone.

LOL, I got the same suggestion, we must have got the same guy. He must be well sick of people calling about this!

10 am Message left on answering machine by man with accent. Note, he never used my name or phone number or any personal, identifying details.

Says he is Robbie King, calling from ATO headquarters in Canberra on the above number, and that they are issuing a 'legal petition notice' with regards to tax evasion and tax fraud, and that the matter is very serious and time sensitive, and if I don't call the 'direct hotline number' as above I will pay the legal consequences.

Ends with 'Have a pleasant day'!!!

I'm still shaking - his manner was creepy and threatening, and I'm not in the best of health, really didn't need this.

Knew if it was the ATO or other government dept. It would be a 13 number or similar, so I looked it up on the internet and voila.

Wanted to get the info out for others, so I rang Telstra, who phoned the number, found it was not answering and blocked it for me, but I guess the scammers are not calling from the numbers they give.

Rang ATO - not really interested. Said they were well aware as thousands of these calls are being made and because they originate from outside Australia they have no jurisdiction (He reckoned they were from Russia or Romania).

Said they seemed to be targeting WA & SA today (26/5/15), and old people's homes, people in hospices etc - exactly the sort of frail, vulnerable people least equipped to deal with this bastardry. Apparently an elderly man was at his credit union withdrawing his life savings, but luckily the teller was on the ball and queried him. Makes me so angry!!!

I just wanted to get the news out, stop this kind of thing, but all the ATO guy could suggest was ringing my local radio station - 'cos older people not on the internet might get the news on the wireless. Well, maybe I'll do that, TV too, scamwatch and anything else. How dare they threaten and scare people.

Does anyone know how they get our numbers?

Please, everyone, when this stuff happens, spread the word (like you have here - it was so reassuring to find the number here, thank you to everyone who took the time to post xxx) to your friends, families, workmates, social groups, anywhere you can think of. Boost the signal!

Sorry for the long post, I was quite upset. :).

Same here, message from Robbie King in Canberra, I called ATO to report it and they said it is happening all over the country and best advice is to delete it, don't call the number back or keep a whistle near the phone. There have been a number of people hit with this scam.

A person calling himself Robbie King, with a Philipino-sounding accent, but it could be machine-generated, rang. He told us to ring this hotline number for the ATO because we are being investigated for tax evasion and tax fraud, and that we would "face the consequences" if we didn't ring back.

Same as the previous comment. Robbie King from ATO Canberra. Have rang ATO Sydney (l think) and have lodged a complaint and scam.

Same story with me, call on answering machine 11.30am 25th May 2015, appears if I do not ring him I will face legal action for "tax evasion and tax rout". Don't think I will bother ringing him as I do have a taxable income.

Message on answering machine from Robbie King from ATO threatening legal action for tax fraud and evasion. Left phone number to ring him back. Don"t think I'll bother.

Got home to find the same threatening message on my answering machine. Do not be fooled people. I tried to call back to have a bit of fun but the number rang out.

Same here, in Adelaide - scam caller with thick accent claiming to be from ATO.

Got the same dodgy scam phone call today...lol.

Unfortunately some idiot will fall for it eventually.

Just got a call from a recorded message saying we were under investigation for Tax Evasion and to call this number back. Have to laugh at that poor attempt to involve us in a scam!

A foreign man stating he was from tax dept about a claim for tax evasion. His called himself robbie king.

Did not address whom call was for just that to avoid legal issues to call back.

Received 1 message on answering machine from this number.

A man with Foreign accent saying he's from Australian Taxation Office in Canberra, and you are under investigation. You need to call back directly on 02 61528663 to speak to him about this.