ATO scam calls: how to spot and report them

Published 30 April 2026 · 6 min read

Australian Tax Office impersonation has been the most-reported phone scam in Australia for years running. The script changes (outstanding debt, refund eligibility, audit threats), but the playbook is constant: pressure, urgency, and a payment demand the real ATO would never make.

How an ATO scam call usually goes

The opening is almost always one of three flavours:

• Pre-recorded threat. A robotic voice claims there's a warrant for your arrest over an unpaid tax debt, and instructs you to press 1 to speak to an "officer" before the AFP arrives. None of that is how the legal system works.
• Live caller, fake authority. A person with an official-sounding tone says they're from the ATO Compliance team. They may quote a "case number" and ask you to confirm your TFN to "verify your identity".
• Refund bait. "You're entitled to a refund of $X. We just need your bank details to process it." The real ATO already has your bank details on file from your last lodgement.

The escalation is consistent: the caller insists you stay on the line, claims the matter is time-critical, and steers you toward an unusual payment method: gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, or a BPAY code that doesn't appear on the ATO's published biller list.

Spoofed ATO numbers

Scammers routinely fake the caller ID to display a real ATO number, most commonly 13 28 61 (the ATO's individual-enquiries line) or various 1800 numbers. Seeing a familiar ATO number on your screen does not prove the call is from the ATO. The display is just text the originating carrier passes through; from cheap overseas VoIP services it can be set to anything. Read more in our guide on caller ID spoofing.

What the real ATO will never do

• Threaten you with immediate arrest, deportation, or police action over the phone.
• Demand payment in iTunes vouchers, Google Play cards, cryptocurrency, or untraceable wire transfers.
• Ask you to read out one-time codes, your full myGov password, or your bank PIN.
• Tell you to keep the call confidential or not to discuss it with family or your accountant.
• Insist that you stay on the line continuously while you make a payment.
• Demand payment to a personal account or to a BPAY biller code that isn't 75556 (income tax) or one of the other published codes.

What the real ATO actually does

• Most communication is through your myGov inbox. If a tax matter needs your attention, that's where it'll surface first.
• Genuine phone calls do happen, for example when a tax agent has lodged something or there's a query on a specific return. The caller will reference details only the ATO would know, and they'll happily let you call back through 13 28 61 to verify.
• Letters arrive by Australia Post on ATO letterhead with a reference number you can verify on the ATO website.
• Repayment plans and payment instructions always reference your TFN and the official BPAY biller codes published at ato.gov.au/howtopay.

How to verify a suspicious call in 60 seconds

1. Hang up. A real ATO officer will not be offended.
2. Look up the official number yourself. Don't redial; don't trust the number on your call log. Go to ato.gov.au/contact.
3. Call 13 28 61 (individuals) or 13 72 26 (business) and ask if there's an open matter on your account. Reference any case number the caller gave you. If it's fake, the operator will tell you immediately.
4. If you're worried about a scam call generally, call the ATO scam reporting line on 1800 008 540.

How to report an ATO scam

• ATO directly: email ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au (yes, it covers phone scams too) with the date, time, number, and what was said.
• Scamwatch (ACCC): scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam. Feeds national statistics and the Scamwatch alert feed.
• Phony: look up the number that called you and add a report. Set the call type to Scam and mention "ATO impersonation" in the comment so the next person searching that number sees it instantly.
• If you lost money, contact your bank within minutes (most banks can recall a transfer if it's still pending), then report to ReportCyber and call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for identity-protection support.

What to do if you already gave them information

Don't panic, but move quickly:

• If you gave bank details: phone your bank's after-hours fraud line immediately. Block the affected card and watch for unauthorised transactions for the next 30 days.
• If you gave your TFN: the ATO can flag your record so any future suspicious activity triggers extra verification. Call them on 1800 467 033 (Client Identity Support Centre).
• If you sent a payment: contact your bank, then file a report with ReportCyber. Recovery is unlikely if the funds reached an offshore account, but every report helps map the scam network.

Bottom line

If a caller claims to be from the ATO and uses any combination of urgency, threats, gift cards, secrecy, or refusal to let you call back, it's a scam, full stop. Hang up, verify through official channels, and add the number to Phony so the next caller doesn't get caught.