- Unknown
Community report for 03 9058 5068 (0390585068): Caller impersonated AFP officer 'Mark Foster' with British accent, sent fake Federal Investigation Notice threatening legal action.
AFP Impersonation Scam Reports for 03 9058 5068
One contributor has reported a scam call from 03 9058 5068 (also written as 0390585068) involving impersonation of an Australian Federal Police officer. The caller claimed to be Mark Foster from the AFP and used threatening language to create a false sense of urgency and fear. The report indicates this was a coordinated attempt combining voice impersonation with written threats sent via email.
What the Caller from 03 9058 5068 Did
The contributor who received the call from 0390585068 reported that the caller identified himself as Mark Foster from the AFP. Notably, the caller had a British accent, which is inconsistent with a genuine Australian Federal Police officer. The scammer followed up the phone call by sending a threatening email claiming to be a Federal Investigation Notice, but used a fake domain rather than official AFP channels.
The email was clearly designed to intimidate and create panic. By combining an intimidating phone call with official-looking written correspondence, the scammer attempted to manipulate the recipient into believing they were under federal investigation. This multi-channel approach is typical of high-pressure impersonation scams targeting Australians.
Red Flags in This Scam
Several elements of this 03 9058 5068 call should have triggered immediate suspicion:
- British accent: The AFP is an Australian law enforcement agency; officers do not typically have British accents when calling Australian residents
- Email domain: Genuine AFP communications come from official .gov.au email addresses, not fake domains
- Threatening tone: Legitimate law enforcement typically communicates through formal written channels first, not aggressive phone calls
- Pressure for immediate action: The scammer created artificial urgency, a classic tactic to prevent victims from verifying the caller's legitimacy
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 03 9058 5068
If 03 9058 5068 calls you or you encounter similar AFP impersonation attempts:
- Do not: Engage with the caller, provide any personal information, open email attachments, or click links from suspicious emails
- Do: Hang up immediately and block the number 0390585068
- Do: If worried about a supposed investigation, contact the AFP directly through their official website (afp.gov.au) using a phone number you independently verify
- Do: Never call back a number provided by the caller - scammers may route you to their own accomplices
- Do: Check your email for the fake Federal Investigation Notice and report it as phishing
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Email from This Scam
If you receive an email claiming to be from the AFP or referencing a Federal Investigation Notice:
- Do not: Click any links, download attachments, or reply to the email
- Do: Forward the email to the Australian Cyber Security Centre at cyber.gov.au to report it
- Do: Delete the email after reporting
- Do: Verify independently by visiting afp.gov.au or calling 131 AFP (131 237) to confirm whether you are actually under investigation
How to Report 03 9058 5068
If you receive similar calls from 03 9058 5068 or other numbers claiming to be the AFP, report it through these official Australian channels:
- Scamwatch: Report the scam at scamwatch.gov.au - they track common impersonation tactics
- ACMA: Lodge a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority at acma.gov.au for illegal telemarketing or scam calls
- Australian Cyber Security Centre: Report phishing emails and coordinated scam campaigns at cyber.gov.au
- AFP directly: Contact AFP on 131 237 to report impersonation of federal police officers
- Reverseau: Contribute your own experience with 0390585068 to help warn other Australians
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 9058 5068!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Bloke claiming to be Mark Foster from AFP, total scam. British accent, sent scary email about Federal Investigation Notice from fake domain. Just hung up
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 9058 5068!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why did the caller have a British accent if they claimed to be AFP?
Genuine Australian Federal Police officers are Australian law enforcement personnel and would not typically have British accents. This is a major red flag suggesting the caller from 03 9058 5068 was impersonating an officer rather than being one. Scammers sometimes use actors with foreign accents or voice modification software, or they may be operating from overseas call centres.
How can I verify if the AFP is actually investigating me?
Do not rely on information provided by callers claiming to be from the AFP. Instead, independently contact the AFP through their official website afp.gov.au or phone 131 237. Never call back numbers provided during unsolicited calls from 0390585068 or similar scams, as you may reach the scammers themselves rather than legitimate police.
Is the email domain a reliable way to spot a fake Federal Investigation Notice?
Yes. All legitimate Australian government communications, including from the AFP, come from official .gov.au email addresses. If you receive an email claiming to be a Federal Investigation Notice from any other domain, it is a scam. The contributor who reported 03 9058 5068 noted the sender used a fake domain, which is a clear indicator of fraud.
What should I do with the fake Federal Investigation Notice email?
Do not delete it immediately. Forward the suspicious email to the Australian Cyber Security Centre at cyber.gov.au to report the phishing attempt. Include the full email headers if possible. Then delete it. You can also report the sender's email address to your email provider as phishing and block future messages from that address.
Could the caller from 0390585068 have been a legitimate AFP officer?
No. The combination of a British accent, a threatening phone call followed by an email from a fake domain claiming to be a Federal Investigation Notice, and the high-pressure tactics used are all hallmarks of impersonation scams. The AFP does not operate this way. If the AFP needed to contact you, they would use official .gov.au channels and verifiable contact methods.
Should I call the number back to verify who it was?
Absolutely not. Do not call back 03 9058 5068 or any number provided by an unsolicited caller claiming to be law enforcement. Scammers often route return calls to their own team members who reinforce the false story. If you are concerned, independently contact the AFP using a phone number you find yourself on afp.gov.au or by calling 131 237.