- Scam
02 8526 1622 (0285261622): Contributors report impersonation calls falsely claiming to be Australian Border Force and Immigration Department with robotic voice options.
Australian Border Force and Immigration Impersonation Reports for 02 8526 1622
Two contributors have reported calls from 02 8526 1622 (also written as 0285261622) impersonating Australian government agencies. Both reports describe callers falsely claiming affiliation with Australian Border Force or the Department of Home Affairs Immigration division. The calls employed authority-based impersonation tactics, with one using an automated robotic voice system offering menu options in both English and Chinese.
One contributor who answered a call from 0285261622 noted the caller claimed to represent Australian Border Force but was unable to maintain a coherent English-language conversation, instead switching to rapid Chinese speech. A second contributor received a more sophisticated robotic voice message from 02 8526 1622 that mimicked an official Immigration Department system with interactive menu selections, despite the recipient being an Australian citizen with no immigration issues.
What Callers from 02 8526 1622 Claim
The specific approach used by 02 8526 1622 involves impersonating official Australian government immigration and border agencies. One report describes a caller claiming Australian Border Force authority but struggling with English language proficiency and reverting to Chinese. The second report features a more automated approach using a robotic voice that presents itself as the Department of Home Affairs, offering recorded menu options in multiple languages to create the appearance of an official government system.
Neither contributor reported being asked for immediate payment or personal information before hanging up, though the sophistication of the robotic voice approach suggests an attempt to appear legitimate enough to encourage recipients to engage further or transfer to a live operator.
Report Patterns and Timing
Reports for 02 8526 1622 span different time periods. One call was received in April 2025, while another came through in December 2025. Both contributors answered the calls rather than allowing them to go to voicemail. The use of multiple impersonation methods (live caller and robotic voice system) across separate reports suggests this number may be part of a broader operation testing different approaches to social engineering.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 8526 1622
If Australian government agencies contact you about immigration or border matters, verify any claims independently before providing information:
- Do not: Engage with menu systems claiming to be from government agencies, provide personal details or passport information, or follow instructions to transfer funds or provide card details
- Do: Hang up immediately, verify claims by calling the official Department of Home Affairs contact number from the government website (not any number provided by the caller), report the call to relevant authorities, and check your email for any legitimate government correspondence
- Remember: Legitimate Australian government agencies will not cold-call you about immigration issues using robotic voice systems or struggle to communicate in English when representing official departments
How to Report 02 8526 1622
If you receive calls from 02 8526 1622 impersonating government agencies, report the incident to multiple Australian authorities:
- Scamwatch: Report to scamwatch.gov.au with details of the impersonation claim and any information requested
- ACMA: Lodge a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority at acma.gov.au about the unwanted call and robocall activity
- Department of Home Affairs: Notify the actual Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or call 131 881 to report the impersonation of immigration services
- Reverseau: Contribute your experience with 02 8526 1622 to help other Australians identify this number and its scam patterns
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8526 1622!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Acting like he's from Australian Border Force, couldn't string sentence together in English, just chattered in Chinese
Robotic voice pretending to be Australian Immigration Department with options in English and Chinese, am Australian citizen
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8526 1622!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would scammers impersonate Australian Border Force when calling 02 8526 1622?
Government agency impersonation creates false authority and urgency. When 0285261622 callers claimed to represent Border Force or Immigration, they were attempting to bypass recipient scepticism by appearing official. This tactic is particularly effective because most people assume government agencies wouldn't be easily spoofed, making them more likely to provide information or follow instructions from 02 8526 1622.
What should I do if I already provided information to a caller from 02 8526 1622?
If you shared personal details, passport information, or financial information with 0285261622, contact the Department of Home Affairs immediately at 131 881 to report the impersonation. Monitor your bank and credit accounts for fraudulent activity, consider placing a fraud alert with credit reporting agencies, and report the call to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. Keep records of the call from 02 8526 1622 including the date and time.
How can I verify if a call claiming to be from immigration is genuine?
Hang up and independently contact the Department of Home Affairs using the official phone number 131 881 or visit immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Never use contact details provided by the caller from 02 8526 1622 or similar numbers. Legitimate government calls will not use robotic voice systems with menu options, and officers will speak clear English. If 0285261622 or similar numbers call again, this confirms it's not a genuine government agency.
Why did the caller from 02 8526 1622 speak Chinese instead of English?
The language switch reported on calls from 0285261622 suggests the caller was attempting either targeted fraud against Chinese-speaking Australians or was unprepared for English-speaking recipients. Legitimate Australian Border Force representatives would maintain professional English communication throughout any official call. This communication failure is a red flag indicating 02 8526 1622 is not a genuine government number.
Is the robotic voice system from 02 8526 1622 actually from the Australian government?
No. The robotic voice from 0285261622 claiming to be the Department of Home Affairs is a scammer's technique to appear legitimate. Real government automated systems (like the ATO self-service line) will clearly identify themselves and typically direct you to call during business hours for assistance. The impersonation tactics used on 02 8526 1622 indicate this is a fraudulent number attempting to deceive Australian citizens.
Should I call back 02 8526 1622 to check if it was a real government call?
No. Do not call back 0285261622. Calling back a fraudulent number from 02 8526 1622 may connect you to scammers waiting to extract information or confirm your number is active (increasing future scam attempts). Instead, independently contact the Department of Home Affairs using the official number 131 881 to verify if they attempted to contact you. This is the only safe way to confirm legitimacy without engaging with 02 8526 1622.