How can I tell if an ATO call is a scam?

The real ATO never threatens immediate arrest, never demands gift cards or cryptocurrency, and never asks you to transfer money to a personal account. If a call does any of these, it is a scam. Hang up and call the ATO on 1800 008 540 to check.

My bank called about fraud and asked me to move money — is that real?

No. A genuine bank will never ask you to move money to a "safe account" or to read out a one-time code. Hang up and call your bank back on the number printed on your card.

The number looked local and official. Doesn’t that mean it’s genuine?

No. Caller ID is trivially spoofed, and scammers deliberately fake local or official-looking numbers. The displayed number is never proof a call is legitimate.

How to Identify a Scam Call in Australia

Scam calls work by impersonating an organisation you trust — the ATO, myGov, your bank, a telco — and pushing you to act before you can think. The good news: almost every scam call shares the same handful of tells. Learn them once and you can spot the next one in seconds.

The red flags common to almost every scam call

Urgency and threats — "your account will be suspended", "a warrant is out for your arrest", "act in the next hour". Real agencies do not work this way.
Unusual payment demands — gift cards, cryptocurrency, or transfers to a "safe account". No legitimate organisation is ever paid in gift cards.
Asking for codes or passwords — a one-time SMS code, your banking password, or remote access to your computer. Never hand these over.
A number that looks local or official — caller ID is easily spoofed, so a familiar-looking number proves nothing.
Pressure to stay on the line — scammers don’t want you to hang up and check, because checking ends the scam.

ATO (tax) impersonation

One of the most common impersonations. The "ATO" calls about a tax debt, a refund, or a tax file number "linked to a crime", and demands immediate payment or your details.

The real ATO will never: threaten you with immediate arrest, demand payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency, ask you to transfer money to a personal or "holding" account, or refuse to let you hang up and call back. If in doubt, hang up and call the ATO on 1800 008 540, or verify the contact at ato.gov.au.

myGov, Centrelink and Services Australia impersonation

These calls (and the texts that lead to them) claim there’s a problem with your myGov account, a Centrelink payment, or a Medicare rebate, and ask you to "confirm" your details or click a link to log in.

Services Australia will never send a link to log in to myGov. Don’t use a number or link from the message — go to servicesaustralia.gov.au or the official myGov app yourself. You can report a suspected Services Australia scam on 1800 941 126.

Bank and card-fraud impersonation

The caller says they’re from your bank’s fraud team, that suspicious transactions have been detected, and that you need to move your money to a "safe account" to protect it — or read out a code they’ve just sent you.

Your bank will never ask you to move money to a "safe account" or read out a one-time code. That is always a scam. Hang up, wait a moment to make sure the line has cleared, then call your bank on the number on the back of your card. Australian banks have signed the Scam-Safe Accord and have dedicated scam lines.

Telco, NBN and "tech support" scams

A caller claims to be from Telstra, the NBN, Microsoft or Apple, says your internet will be disconnected or your computer is "infected", and asks to install remote-access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) so they can "fix" it.

The NBN never makes unsolicited calls to sell services or disconnect you, and no legitimate company cold-calls about a virus on your computer. Never install remote-access software at a caller’s request — it hands them your screen, files and banking.

How to verify a caller safely

The single most powerful habit: hang up and call back on a number you found yourself.

End the call. Don’t let pressure keep you on the line.
Find the organisation’s real number independently — the back of your card, an official letter, or the organisation’s website you typed in yourself. Never the number the caller gave you.
Call back and ask whether they contacted you. Scammers can’t intercept a call you place to a number you looked up.
Still unsure about the number that called? Look it up on EndSpam to see if others reported it.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if an ATO call is a scam?: The real ATO never threatens immediate arrest, never demands gift cards or cryptocurrency, and never asks you to transfer money to a personal account. If a call does any of these, it is a scam. Hang up and call the ATO on 1800 008 540 to check.
My bank called about fraud and asked me to move money — is that real?: No. A genuine bank will never ask you to move money to a "safe account" or to read out a one-time code. Hang up and call your bank back on the number printed on your card.
The number looked local and official. Doesn’t that mean it’s genuine?: No. Caller ID is trivially spoofed, and scammers deliberately fake local or official-looking numbers. The displayed number is never proof a call is legitimate.

Last updated 2026-06-27. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.