Phone Call Scams in Australia: the ATO, Centrelink and Bank Impersonation
Scam phone calls are common in Australia. A caller may claim to be from the ATO, Centrelink, your bank, or a well-known company. They often sound official and try to create pressure, hoping you will act before you have time to think.
You do not need to be an expert to stay safe. The key is knowing how real organisations behave, and what scammers do differently. This guide explains the common calls and exactly what to do. This is one piece of a bigger picture, so it is worth reading our full guide to staying safe online as well.
Quick answer
If a caller pressures you, threatens you, or asks for payment, a password or remote access to your computer, hang up. It is almost certainly a scam. Real organisations are happy for you to call them back on their official number. When in doubt, end the call and ring the number on your card or a letter you trust. To check whether a call was really the ATO, you can ring the ATO on 1800 008 540.
Common phone scams in Australia
- A caller claims to be from the ATO, saying you owe tax or are owed a refund, and asks for bank details, a gift card payment, or immediate payment.
- A caller claims to be from Centrelink or myGov about a payment or your details, and asks you to confirm personal information.
- A caller claims to be your bank’s fraud team, says your account is at risk, and asks you to move money to a “safe” account or share a code.
- A caller claims your computer has a virus and asks to connect to it remotely to fix it.
How real organisations behave
Knowing what is normal makes scams easier to spot. The ATO, Centrelink and your bank will never threaten you with arrest, demand payment by gift card or cryptocurrency, or ask for your full password or a one-time security code. The ATO will not cancel your tax file number or send police to your door, and its genuine phone calls show as “No Caller ID” rather than a number you can ring back. None of these organisations will mind if you say you want to call back on their official number. A real caller gives you time. A scammer pushes for speed.
What to do when you get one
- Stay calm and do not feel rushed. It is fine to simply hang up.
- Never share passwords, PINs, security codes, or bank details over the phone.
- Never let someone connect to your computer or phone remotely.
- Hang up and call the organisation back on a number from your card, a letter, or their official website.
- Remember that a number showing on your screen can be faked, so it is not proof of who is calling.
To cut down on these calls in the first place, see our guide on how to block unwanted calls on iPhone.
How to tell a real ATO or Centrelink call from a scam
This is the part that catches Australians out most, so it is worth being clear. The ATO does phone people, but a genuine ATO call shows as “No Caller ID”, and the ATO will never threaten you with immediate arrest, leave a pre-recorded message demanding you call back, ask you to pay a tax debt with gift cards, vouchers or cryptocurrency, or ask you to pay into a personal bank account. If you are unsure, hang up and call the ATO’s scam line on 1800 008 540 to check whether the contact was real.
Centrelink and myGov work the same way. Services Australia will not threaten to cancel your payment unless you act this minute, and will not ask you to confirm your myGov password over the phone. If a call claims to be from Centrelink, Medicare or myGov and feels off, hang up and report it to the Services Australia Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126. You can always reach your own myGov account by typing my.gov.au into your browser yourself, never through a link or number someone gives you on a call.
How to report a phone scam in Australia
- Report the scam to Scamwatch online at scamwatch.gov.au. Scamwatch is run by the National Anti-Scam Centre and reports help warn other people.
- Tell your phone provider, as Telstra, Optus and TPG can act on scam numbers. You can also forward a scam text to 7726.
- To check a suspicious tax call, ring the ATO on 1800 008 540. For Centrelink, Medicare or myGov, call Services Australia on 1800 941 126.
- If you have lost money, contact your bank immediately, then report it through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au or call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. Call Triple Zero (000) if you are in immediate danger.
- If your personal or identity details were exposed, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for free support, and let family know so they can watch for the same call.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: Phone call scams in Australia
Does the ATO ever phone people?
Yes, but a genuine ATO call shows as “No Caller ID”, and the ATO will not threaten you, demand instant payment, ask for gift cards, or ask for your password. If a call feels threatening or rushed, hang up and check by calling the ATO on 1800 008 540.
The number looked like an Australian number. Doesn’t that prove it is real?
No. Scammers can fake the number that appears on your screen. Never judge a call by the number alone.
What if they already have some of my details?
Scammers often know your name or address from other sources. That does not make them genuine. Judge the call by what they ask you to do.
They asked me to install something to fix my computer. Is that safe?
No. A real company will not ring out of the blue and ask to connect to your computer. Hang up and do not install anything.
What should I do if I gave them money or details?
Contact your bank straight away, as they can often act quickly. Report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au and, if your identity is at risk, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. You can also report it through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au. Acting fast gives the best chance of help.
