- Scam
- Spam
The phone number 02 8417 2676 has been reported as a fraudulent caller impersonating the Australian Tax Office (ATO). Learn how to handle malicious calls from this number to protect yourself from scams.
Identifying the Threat from 02 8417 2676
The phone number 02 8417 2676 / 0284172676 has raised considerable alarm among users, with reports categorically identifying it as a scheme aimed at scaring individuals into providing personal information. The nature of the claim involves impersonation of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), where they falsely assert that recipients are tax delinquents facing arrest warrants.
What Users Are Experiencing
Since several individuals began reporting calls from this number in September 2016, a clear pattern emerged. Users commonly reported automated messages that are convoluted and feature garbled sections, seemingly designed to confuse the listener. The tone invariably shifts to urgent threats of legal actions, specifically mentioning warrants for arrest and tax fraud, which are unlikely to be communicated through such methods by a legitimate agency.
Classification of the Number
The consensus among users categorically confirms that 02 8417 2676 / 0284172676 is a fraudulent number. No legitimate government agency, including the ATO, would resort to automated telephone threats. An in-depth review shows multiple complaints that include:
- Threatening Language: Messages claim that users face arrest for unpaid taxes.
- Call-Back Confusion: Different numbers offered in the messages with no correlation to official lines.
- International Accents: Complaints about accents suggest non-Australian origin from would-be scammers.
- Frustration with Persistency: Many users received multiple calls in a short span, contributing to growing alarm.
Dealing with Such Calls
To safeguard against potential scams, it’s pivotal to remain vigilant. If you receive a call from 02 8417 2676:
- Do Not Engage: Avoid providing personal information or complying with demands, no matter how convincing the caller sounds.
- Document and Report: Keep a record of the calls and report them to the ATO and local authorities.
- Educate Others: Inform your friends and family, particularly elderly relatives, who may be more susceptible to such threats.
Final Notes
Ultimately, 02 8417 2676 / 0284172676 is entangled in a complex web of deceit, and understanding such scams will empower you to protect yourself. Remember that legitimate organisations, including the ATO, have streamlined procedures and will not engage in fear tactics through automated calls. If ever in doubt, a reverse phone lookup using services like Reverseau can help validate unknown numbers and potentially guard against these scams.
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8417 2676!
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What Our Users Reviewed
Automated female voice, English accent, recorded on my answering machine. The first bit said something about "do not call register". The message continued, referring to - tax, fraud, warrant for arrest, etc. Obviously a scam. This was the second call, the first call I just hung up on without listening to it. My number IS on the Do No Call Register. Which Authorities do I report this to!? Has the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register been hacked?!
Grubby scammers. Call the number with a whistle at the ready and blast away! Filthy scum of the earth these people are...
We also received two automated messages saying warrant issued blah blah blah. I called them saying I was really worried about the status of tax owing and how I can have the issue rectified. The Indian fellow from the "ATO" then asked me for my phone number to which I replied "Scumbag!" and blew an extremely loud whistle, laughed loudly then hung up - felt fantastic! Going to do it again tomorrow.
Yes, please report the number. I also received a call this morning which went to my message bank with this number shown as the number to return calls to being 0286078184. SECOND CALL IN 3 DAYS. WE ARE ON THE dO nOT CALL rEGISTER.
I received a call from this number today. Automated message from the "ATO", something about delinquency, I hung up after I heard this. There's nothing wrong with my tax return this year.
So I received two automated calls from this number pretending to ATO and that I was a defaultee and a warranty for my arrest has been issued. I have reported this to the authorities at ATO. They will forward this for further investigation. Be mindful that there is also an email doing the rounds so report it as spam. I called the number and on the second attempt got an Indian man identifying as ATO. When I confronted him about fraudulent scheme he hung up and did not answer any subsequent calls placed from my phone. I will be calling back next week to play games with these disgusting people. I will be spamming them and will play along just to see what they are trying to extort from me. Seriously there needs to be action from the authorities to close this down.
I have received 2 calls today - same fraud rubbish.
Another scam to add to the list for the Indians.
I have received numerous calls from this number today too - I cheekily called it back from my work number (knowing it was a fraud), got a guy answer with a 'hello' ... I asked him who he was, he says 'Kevin Taylor' in a barely English accent... Then I asked him where he was from, he says 'the ATO' ... "Oh really" I asked him... He hung up on me! LOL.
The next time they call they'll get a whistle in their ear - Idiots!
It's a scam. I received a phone message. Very difficult to understand female automated voice advising I was a tax fraud and a warrant has been issued for my arrest. The ATO do not issue these types of messages. I recommend not engaging with these people. They are obviously scammers.
Just had a call from this number too, there is no way the tax office would call me on this number as all my tax records are on another one, so has to be a scam.
I have received 4 calls from this same number that were recorded with a digital female voice. I have also received the message from a male voice, who was hard to understand as English was not his first language. He referred to some of our authorities using the wrong terminology which would suggest he was not in Australia in the first instance.
These calls are very threatening and confusing, I had to listen to my answering machine a couple of times before I understood the full message. I could easily see our elderly getting caught up in this scam.
Who are these horrible people and how did they get our phone numbers?
Just had the same call.... So dodgy. Googled and relieved to find this!!! I heard "forms have been returned unsigned and a warrant for my arrest" no mention of my name etc.
I just had a call from.
02 84172676 which was exactly the same automated message as mentioned in previous comment.
Definitely sounded like a scam to me thats why I looked up this phone number. The message was very hard to understand only a few words were clear.
Got home from work. They left 3 messages. All automated & all of them identical. Although the messages themselves were all the same; they left two different call-back numbers; 02 8607 8111 & 02 8417 2676.
It sounds like a refined Australian womans voice. The start of the message is somewhat garbled, so I wasn't 100% sure who she claimed to work for. She used the words "Tax" and "Australian Tax Department.".
During parts of the message I noticed that there was a clear intent to deliberately garble the message at certain sections, in a way where its a mish-mash of recorded words intricately strung together in an effort to fool you into thinking that the message comes from officialdom.
They say things like; "Your account has been marked as delinquent" and; "A warrant has been issued for your arrest".
So this one is clearly a scam. I'm happy that this site exists because it stops people from being hurt.
Someone needs to stop these scammers. Malcolm should call Jamie and ask him if he could please have Carl and Lisa do segment on phone scammers.