ATO & NBN Scam Calls in Australia: How to Spot Them
Calls threatening arrest over unpaid tax, or a "technician" asking to remotely access your computer to fix your internet, are among the most-reported phone scams in Australia. Here's how they actually work, and how the real ATO and telcos actually contact you.
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✅ The short version: The ATO doesn't threaten arrest over the phone or demand instant payment by gift card. NBN Co and telcos don't cold-call asking for remote access to your computer. Either one of these on a call is enough to know it's a scam.
The two most common scams behind these calls
Pulled directly from our live scam-pattern database — the same data behind every Australian number report on this site:
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ATO Tax Scam
Impersonates the Australian Tax Office demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest.
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NBN / Telco Scam (Australia)
Poses as an NBN Co or Telstra technician to gain remote access to the victim's computer.
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Tech Support Scam
Poses as Microsoft, Apple, or another tech company claiming your device has a virus.
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Customs / Package Intercept
Claims a package was intercepted containing drugs or contraband — demands payment to "clear" your name.
How the ATO scam usually unfolds
- A call or robocall claims you owe back taxes and threatens immediate arrest or legal action if you don't pay right away.
- You're told to pay via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer — methods no real tax office uses.
- The caller pressures you to stay on the line and not hang up to "verify with someone else," because that verification would expose the scam.
How the NBN/Telstra tech-support scam usually unfolds
- A caller claims to be from NBN Co, Telstra, Optus, or another telco, saying your internet connection has an issue or is about to be disconnected.
- They ask you to download remote-access software or visit a website to "diagnose" the problem.
- Once they have access, they can view your files, install malware, or claim to find a "problem" that needs an immediate payment to fix.
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Quick check: if a number contacts you and you're unsure, search it on
SearchMobileNumber before responding — you'll see if others have already reported it.
What to do if you're targeted
- Hang up — there's no requirement to stay on the line or resolve anything immediately.
- Never install remote-access software or visit a link a caller sends you to "fix" an issue.
- Check your myGov account directly for any real ATO correspondence, rather than trusting what a caller tells you.
- Report the call to Scamwatch (run by the ACCC), and to the ATO directly if it claimed to be from them.
- Report the number here so others searching it see the warning.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ATO really call threatening arrest over unpaid tax?
No. The Australian Taxation Office does not call threatening immediate arrest, and does not demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. Genuine ATO contact about a tax debt happens through myGov or official letters, with a normal process to question or dispute the amount — not a single phone call demanding instant payment.
Someone called claiming to be from NBN or Telstra and asked to access my computer — is this real?
This is a well-documented scam. NBN Co and telcos like Telstra do not call out of the blue asking to remotely access your computer to fix a connection issue. If a caller asks you to install remote-access software or visit a website to 'fix' your internet, treat it as a scam and end the call.
How do I tell a real ATO or NBN contact from a scam?
Genuine ATO contact about a debt is also visible in your myGov account, not just a phone call. NBN Co and telcos don't request remote computer access over an unsolicited call. If you're ever unsure, hang up and contact the organisation directly using the number on their official website, not one given to you by the caller.
Where do I report ATO or NBN scam calls in Australia?
Report them to Scamwatch, run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which tracks phone scam trends nationally. You can also report directly to the ATO if the call claimed to be from them.
Related guides
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