130-066-1508

had a missed call and a message saying it was the tax office and to call back with my TFN... might call the tax dept direct....

asian caller asking for my son..said it was tax office,left message for him to ring with tax file number & someone would help him.I checked with the ATO & it`s NOT one of their numbers..then I found this site.
DON`T GIVE ANYONE ANY INFO..NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!!!

i had a missed call too - i called the number and they started asking me lots of personal questions - i called the ato directly and they said they will send a message to the fraud section to investigate - they suggested only contact them on the official switchboard number on www.ato.gov.au

Had an indian man call me and pretend to be an ATO staff.He asked me to call the above number and quote my TFN.
As an accountant I know it is too early for an audit this financial year, and ATO rarely calls  its taxpayers-it is usually an official letter.After having Googled this number I found this post, and now wondering how those  dodgy people got they hands on our details((

Received a call from these clowns too.  Definitely dodggy.  Any issues with the Tax office use the number son their website.  Report these idiots and give them the finger.

Thanks for calling us clowns...I happen to work for the ATO & have done for the last 10 years. I currently work in this department, so before you make ridiculous comments such as the ones made thus far...you'd better get your facts right!
Jane...as an accountant perhaps you might actually want to call the number only to discover that IT IS the ATO!!!!! Us dodgy clowns have your details as they are in our systems that we use at the ATO. Honestly...do you believe everything on the net???? Who's the clown then???

Had a call from a very well spoke Indian woman calling herself Ann claiming to be from the ATO.  Wanted to talk with our daughter.  Asked for her to call back to 1300 601 508 between 8-6 M-F Victorian time with her tax file number.  Checked with ATO and was informed this is a fraudulent number.

Hope its not racist but the foreign accent on the dude that left me a message to call that number (in relation to my wife) made me pretty suspicious, then I also read this thread where people seem pretty sure its a scam...so I called the ATO direct...call checks out - it was legit.

If you have doubts - just call ato direct. not like you have to call that 1300 number anyway to give them them info (or get the info) that needs to be given.

I just called the ATO via the switchboard numbers on their website - they informed the number is valid for the ATO, they offered to transfer me through to that department.  I assume the reasons for them calling will vary, but mine was because I forgot to lodge a return a few years ago.  Might as well check to make sure everyone's lodged what they're meant to!

Everyone, PLEASE DON'T RING THIS NUMBER.

Check with the ATO first by going to their website and following their contact details to ask about this number.

If they wanted your TFN then anyone who works for the ATO will be able to trace it on their computers for you.

I'm going to check with the ATO tomorrow to see if the number was legit or not. I'm not going to trust those strangers that say it's fine to give my details away to a random person that called me.

I received a call from a guy, who asked me to call  back on this number because I said I didn't trust him.

I called the ATO on a number from their website.

Turns out the call was legit. Currently on hold being transferred to the relevant department :)

Just call the ATO directly if you feel it is dodgy. Might turn out to be something real, like in my case.

I had a message left this morning, saying they were from the 'Australian taxation office' they told me to call back on 1300661508, I called the ato directly and was informed that it is not one of their numbers and this number has already been reported in their system as suspicious.

Like the last reply states, call them through one of their published numbers and they will put you through to the appropriate dept if it is them after you.

Tim

i got a letter in ther mail addres to me and it read URGENT ATTENTION REQUIRED.
it also says call 1300665020 to discuss details it doesnt evan say what its about and the name of the person that sent it only put the first name (Karen)

@Barry - 9 Oct 2009

I find it very weird that an ATO employee would be searching for this number on the internet and would actually comment.

I would call the ATO directly and then asked to be transferred.

I also find it weird that the when I called the line it says NSW time, when it should Eastern Standard Time.

Chris

hi

everyone i just got the same call at work from a very rude indian man demanding my details for taxation purposes. felt like i was a criminal. i said i don't know who you are how are you going to prove your identity to me before i tell you anything? he gave me the same number as you guys. i tried dialling the number, it sounds legit but it is not difficult to program an automated voice greeting message. it is quite odd that all the greeting focuses on is talking about giving your tax file number.
furthermore, if you go to the official ato website, they have a list of different contact numbers and none of them are the 1300 number.
i feel so angry!

In response to your comment, Chris...the reason why we are aware of this site is because one of our clients advised us about it & it was sent around as a link...so we are all aware of it here in this department & find it amusing that certain people are sooooooooooooooo definite that this number is dodgy! Gee, I don't know why I bother coming into work everyday...if appears my job is a scam...and my government pass I wear around my neck is obviously an illusion.
As for us asking for your TFN, that is to verify who you are...YES, we have your information on our screen, but having your TFN as a reference & us asking for your date of birth etc is to actually protect you...NOT SCAM you!! When the bank calls you, do they not ask for personal information???? To do a search for your name in our system wastes time & also means we have to ask more specific questions relating to your tax that you may not know offhand! There are many scams going around, nationally as well as internationally...THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. We run different phone projects all the time which is why we are not specifically listed...but we do exist...in my department there are 5 teams who are doing this work. Coupled with that, we are a equal opportunity place of employment & do have many people of varying nationalities...all calls are made from Australia, not overseas. The phone calls are being made as a courtesy call to you-doesn't bother me if you assume it is dodgy & don't take the call & don't call back...you're the ones who might find yourselves penalised for ignoring the call. This number has NOT been reported in "our" system as fraudulent or suspicious...that is because it is not, so whoever is claiming that when you call another department that it is, is very ill informed!!!

J -12 October 2009 - since when does the bank make personal calls? If I need to contact the ATO or the Bank then I do so myself and I understand them asking for my info to get the record up on their screens, but if they call me then surely they know who they want to talk to.

I got one of these calls tonight, they left a message on the answering machine. They did not leave their name or what the issue was about other then to say that they wanted to confirm my TFN - why does the ATO want to call me to confirm my TFN when its on their system. I was also informed I only had until the close of business on the 18th Nov.

Doesn't sound very legit to me.

I just got off the phone with the ATO and they informed me that if they require information such as an individuals TFN they would put that request in writing and that they wouldn't phone to receive that information. The woman informed me that the most important thing was to not give out the TFN to anyone who makes a call and requests that information.

I have just recieved a call also and I cant say that it seemed too legitimate. I called my tax agent and they were very surprised and advised not to give any details especially as they are the peolpe nominated to recieve all contact from the ATO.

J 12 November. You spent alot of time writing your comments but you failed to actually write your name in full. Why not??? Please provide your direct line within the ATO..