02 6189 2550 - 0261892550: ATO Impersonation and Scam Reports

• Scam
• Legit
• Uncertain
• Suspicious

Community reports for 02 6189 2550 (0261892550) describe ATO impersonation scams requesting personal details and fake refunds, alongside legitimate Legal Aid survey calls from Lonergan Research.

ATO Impersonation Scam Reports for 02 6189 2550

02 6189 2550 (also written as 0261892550) has received multiple scam reports involving impersonation of the Australian Taxation Office. Two contributors reported receiving calls from this number where callers claimed to be ATO staff members offering tax refunds. One caller identified herself as 'Stacey from ATO Sydney', sounding polite and professional while asking security questions to verify identity. The caller knew the recipient's full address and tax file number, creating a convincing false sense of legitimacy.

The sophistication of these ATO impersonation attempts on 02 6189 2550 is notable. Contributors reported that callers requested bank account details to process fake refunds. One recipient who called the number back immediately encountered a robotic voice with menu options, and experienced unusual phone behaviour including rapid battery drain and unexpected app installations after the call. The number subsequently became inactive.

Requests for Personal Information from 02 6189 2550

Beyond ATO impersonation, multiple contributors reported that callers from 0261892550 persistently requested verification of identity and account details under the guise of electronic funds transfer (EFT) refunds. One contributor described receiving several calls asking for account information in what appeared to be a confusing or deliberately obfuscated process. Another report noted repeated calls with requests to speak to specific family members and demands for personal verification, with the caller refusing to explain the purpose when challenged on privacy grounds.

Report Patterns: Scam vs. Legitimate Calls

02 6189 2550 presents a mixed picture with competing claim patterns. Three contributors confirmed this number belongs to Lonergan Research, a market research company contracted by Legal Aid Australia to conduct client satisfaction surveys. These contributors described receiving professional survey calls and noted that Legal Aid sends advance notification letters explaining the calls and providing options to opt out or request no contact. Two contributors described these interactions as legitimate and pleasant.

However, the scam reports create significant overlap and potential confusion. Two separate ATO impersonation scams and three suspicious reports involving personal information requests and robocalls point to the number being either compromised or spoofed for fraudulent purposes. The contrast between genuine survey work and active impersonation attempts suggests either multiple entities using 0261892550 or successful number spoofing by scammers.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 6189 2550

If 02 6189 2550 calls you claiming to be from the ATO:

• Do not: Provide your tax file number, bank account details, or any personal information over the phone
• Do not: Return the call to any number the caller provides
• Do: Hang up immediately and contact the ATO directly using the number on the official ATO website or your tax notice
• Do: Remember that the ATO will never call asking for refunds without prior written notification

If 02 6189 2550 calls you for a survey or other purpose:

• Do: Ask the caller to identify the organisation they represent and verify via that organisation's official contact details
• Do: If the caller claims to be from Legal Aid, check for an advance notification letter before engaging
• Do: Request to be added to any do-not-call list or ask the caller to remove your number from their contact list
• Do: Hang up if the caller cannot clearly explain the purpose of the call or becomes evasive about why they're contacting you

What to Do If Your Phone Shows Unusual Behaviour After Calling 02 6189 2550

One contributor reported that following interaction with this number, their phone experienced rapid battery drain, unexpected shutdown, and unauthorised app installations. If you experience similar issues:

• Do: Check your installed apps and remove any unfamiliar applications
• Do: Run a security scan using your phone's built-in security features or a reputable mobile security app
• Do: Update your operating system and all apps to the latest versions
• Do: Monitor your accounts and financial transactions for suspicious activity
• Do: Consider contacting your phone provider to report the suspicious activity

How to Report 02 6189 2550

If you receive a scam call from 02 6189 2550 (0261892550):

• Report to Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au - Australia's official scam reporting service
• Report to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): acma.gov.au - handles complaints about telemarketing calls and number spoofing
• If it's an ATO impersonation scam: Contact the ATO directly via their official website or phone the ATO's tax evasion hotline
• If you've lost money: Report to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au
• Add the number to your block list: Most phones allow you to block incoming calls from specific numbers in Settings
• Contribute to Reverseau: Share your experience on this page to help other Australians identify and report calls from 02 6189 2550

Frequently Asked Questions