- Scam
One community report for 02 8526 8200 (0285268200) describing impersonation of the Department of Immigration. Caller claimed official authority to obtain personal information.
Department of Immigration Impersonation Report for 02 8526 8200
A contributor has reported receiving a call from 02 8526 8200 (also written as 0285268200) in which the caller falsely claimed to represent the Department of Immigration. This type of impersonation is a common scam tactic used to establish false authority and manipulate recipients into disclosing sensitive personal information or financial details.
The report indicates the caller used the Department of Immigration identity to lend credibility to their call. Such impersonation attempts exploit trust in government institutions and create a false sense of urgency or legal obligation in the recipient.
What the Caller from 02 8526 8200 Claimed
According to the report, the caller identified themselves as being from the Department of Immigration. This impersonation tactic is designed to make the recipient believe they are dealing with an official government entity, which can lead people to comply with requests they would otherwise question.
Government department impersonation calls like this one from 0285268200 typically follow patterns where callers create scenarios involving visa status, immigration compliance, or account verification issues to justify requesting personal details such as name, date of birth, passport information, or banking details.
Report Details and Channel
The call from 02 8526 8200 was answered by the contributor, meaning the caller made direct contact. This provides the caller opportunity to establish their false identity and potentially advance their scam attempt through conversation. The report was logged on 21 January 2026.
The number 0285268200 is allocated as a local service through Symbio Networks Pty Ltd in New South Wales, which gives it the appearance of a standard Australian business line - another tactic used to increase legitimacy in impersonation attempts.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 8526 8200
If 02 8526 8200 calls you:
- Do not: Confirm personal information, provide passport or visa details, share banking information, or agree to any immediate actions the caller requests
- Do: Hang up immediately, block the number, and independently verify any immigration-related inquiries by contacting the Department of Home Affairs directly through their official website or published phone numbers
- Remember: Legitimate government departments will not demand personal information during unsolicited calls and will not threaten visa cancellation or legal action over the phone
If you have already provided information to this caller, consider changing passwords, monitoring accounts for unusual activity, and contacting relevant authorities immediately.
How to Report 02 8526 8200
If you receive a scam call from 02 8526 8200 (0285268200) impersonating the Department of Immigration or any government agency, report it to the following resources:
- Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au - Australia's official scam reporting service operated by the ACCC
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): acma.gov.au - can investigate complaints about misleading or deceptive calls
- ReportCyber: cyber.gov.au - for reports involving cyber-enabled fraud or identity theft
- Department of Home Affairs: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au - to report fraudulent use of their identity
- Local police: Use the non-emergency number or visit your local station to file a report
- Reverseau: Help other Australians by contributing your experience with 02 8526 8200 on this page
Your report helps build community awareness and may assist authorities in identifying and stopping the scam operation.
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WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Claimed to be from Department of Immigration
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WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Is 02 8526 8200 a real Department of Immigration number?
No. The legitimate Department of Home Affairs (which handles immigration) uses specific published contact numbers available on their official website. If you're unsure whether a call is genuine, hang up and call the Department directly using the phone number listed on their official website, not any number provided by the caller. The report about 0285268200 indicates this is an impersonation attempt.
What information did the caller from 02 8526 8200 try to get?
The specific information requested in the 0285268200 call was not detailed in the report, but government impersonation scams typically attempt to obtain passport details, visa information, date of birth, full name, or banking information. Never provide any personal details to callers claiming to be from government agencies unless you have independently verified their identity.
Why do scammers impersonate the Department of Immigration?
Immigration-related impersonation is effective because people fear visa cancellation or legal consequences. When a caller from 02 8526 8200 claims to represent an immigration authority, it creates urgency and fear that makes people more likely to comply with requests without thinking critically. The legitimate Department of Home Affairs will never demand immediate payment or personal details via unsolicited calls.
Should I call 02 8526 8200 back to verify?
No. Do not call back numbers associated with scam impersonation attempts like 0285268200. If you need to verify an immigration inquiry, use the official contact details published on the Department of Home Affairs website, not any number from the caller. Calling back may confirm your number is active and lead to more scam attempts.
How many people have reported 02 8526 8200?
One contributor has reported this impersonation attempt involving 0285268200. While this is a single report, government impersonation scams are widespread in Australia. If you receive a similar call from this number or another source, please report it to Reverseau and the authorities listed above to help protect other Australians.
What should I do if I already gave information to the caller from 02 8526 8200?
If you provided passport, visa, personal, or banking information to 0285268200, take these steps immediately: change passwords for email and banking accounts, monitor bank and credit card statements for unauthorised transactions, consider placing a fraud alert with credit reporting agencies, and report the incident to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and your local police. Contact your bank directly if financial details were shared.