Scams like these

[mrsterryn]

Received a phone call from the ATO this morning about a Final Reminder for information regarding someone reporting me for committing fraud.

I heard Final Reminder twice and hung up after about 10-15 seconds. Not a very convincing scam. Not sure how people fall for this scam.

Husband received that phone call as well. Looks legitimate as it appears to be a Canberra number. Husband decided to not answer and see what voice mail said
Yeppers ato bill

 

[JohnK]

Husband received that phone call as well. Looks legitimate as it appears to be a Canberra number. Husband decided to not answer and see what voice mail said
Yeppers ato bill

I called the ATO as well. I did have an outstanding bill but if that's how they contact customers they need to rethink their strategy.

 

[straitman]

Husband received that phone call as well. Looks legitimate as it appears to be a Canberra number. Husband decided to not answer and see what voice mail said
Yeppers ato bill

I got a call as well. The ATO must be on holidays though as mine came from Ballina.

 

[prozac]

I called the ATO as well. I did have an outstanding bill but if that's how they contact customers they need to rethink their strategy.

Scam. ATO does not telephone customers.

Are we customers or clients? The ATO gives us nothing in return.

 

[VPS]

I got a call as well. The ATO must be on holidays though as mine came from Ballina.

Mine came from Port Macquarie

 

[marki]

A few AFFers are in KL this weekend. Just ask them for the office address and we can drop in and pick up a cheque.

so believable

 

[VPS]

You'd reckon they would try get at least some punctuation right Hello, Compliments of the day, i hope you are in good health.I am a banker with a financial Institution here in china and i am writing to you for an opportunity that will benefit us both immensely.I have discovered an unclaimed inheritance fund of seven million one hundred thousand united states dollars only and i wish to lay down your name as the next of kin to the amount in question due to the death of the depositor who died years ago along with her family. However,i assure you that will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law both in your country and here in china once the fund is transferred to your bank account. The funds i am referring to is right here in this bank floating in suspense account,therefore i solicit for your cooperation to be in collaboration with me to have this done. If you are interested in this transaction,kindly get back to me asap so that i can give the full details about this transaction. I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible. Yours Sincerely,GM(Treasury Department)The Export-Import Bank of China

 

[defurax]

I should ask my bank if they offer a "suspense account", sounds like a thrilling product.

 

[Bindibuys]

OMG!!! Our phone system has been hacked...and I have a 1 in 100 dial range on my switch. I have been abused by so many people this morning..... “You just rang my number...” “ if that is Rachel from the NBN - F@222 OFF “. So many oldies returning the call.
Most are ok once I explain, but GOD I am over explaining it was NOT me.
Can’t change password on Samsung system until my it guy can be ready to update it straight away....now he is not answering my calls.... I am going to have to raid the office bar for a drink.

 

[Denali]

I dont understand. Your system is making random calls to people and they are phoning back?

Whats the point of that?

Hope your IT/phone guy fixes it asap

 

[p--and--t]

Been getting calls on my mobile this morning feigning from "Lismore" ATO number - robo-call telling me I'm going to court for not paying my taxes LOL.

I keep saying to my self why do they bother with that cough (same robo-call message for last 6-7 years filled with Americanisms), but then I remember how many gullible people there are all around me.

I love the block feature on iPhone. I used it yesterday on a couple calls from Burundi.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I dont understand. Your system is making random calls to people and they are phoning back?

Whats the point of that?

Hope your IT/phone guy fixes it asap

They hack in and then use your number to phone people with scams. They don’t need people to phone them back as the scam either works on the initial call or it doesn’t. If they do call back they get you and not the scammer.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Been getting calls on my mobile this morning feigning from "Lismore" ATO number - robo-call telling me I'm going to court for not paying my taxes LOL.

I keep saying to my self why do they bother with that cough (same robo-call message for last 6-7 years filled with Americanisms), but then I remember how many gullible people there are all around me.

I love the block feature on iPhone. I used it yesterday on a couple calls from Burundi.

The ATO scam has been quite successful apparently.....

 

[p--and--t]

They hack in and then use your number to phone people with s

They don't need to hack in, they just select a number that people might respond to and then "feign" that number to appear on your CLI when they call you.

They could be calling from anywhere in the world and using your number. They can plug it into a robo-call program and call thousands of people in a day pretending to be you and sitting having a beer in Ghana.

 

[Flying mermaid]

They don't need to hack in, they just select a number that people might respond to and then "feign" that number to appear on your CLI when they call you.

They could be calling from anywhere in the world and using your number. They can plug it into a robo-call program and call thousands of people in a day pretending to be you and sitting having a beer in Ghana.

that’s true - they can just spoof the number - they spoof the Tax office’s number when doing the ATO scams

 

[get me outta here]

I've been getting 15 calls a day from 'NBN' about to delete me.

 

[eastwest101]

I've been getting 15 calls a day from 'NBN' about to delete me.

Here's a question for any knowledgeable communication people out there, why was spoofing allowed/authorised in the first place? Or why wasn't a standard brought in that could at least identify and monetise spoofing?

I realise there may have been a very limited legitimate use for spoofing for some government agencies when it was first proposed, but surely it would have been forseeable that this technology was going to be mis-used?

 

[Denali]

The ATO scam has been quite successful apparently.....

Had a meeting with a insurance broker rep that was telling us his wife fell for it. She thought there was a warrant out for her husband (the insurer rep) via a ATO claim and paid the $$$$

We didnt go with his services.

I've been getting 15 calls a day from 'NBN' about to delete me.

Only if it was true - where do we sign up

 

[p--and--t]

OMG!!! Our phone system has been hacked...and I have a 1 in 100 dial range on my switch. I have been abused by so many people this morning..... “You just rang my number...” “ if that is Rachel from the NBN - F@222 OFF “. So many oldies returning the call.
Most are ok once I explain, but GOD I am over explaining it was NOT me.
Can’t change password on Samsung system until my it guy can be ready to update it straight away....now he is not answering my calls.... I am going to have to raid the office bar for a drink.

Here's a question for any knowledgeable communication people out there, why was spoofing allowed/authorised in the first place? Or why wasn't a standard brought in that could at least identify and monetise spoofing?

I realise there may have been a very limited legitimate use for spoofing for some government agencies when it was first proposed, but surely it would have been forseeable that this technology was going to be mis-used?

.....there's a pretty good explanation here

How phone scammers are hijacking phone numbers and causing chaos

Mobile and landline telephone numbers are being hijacked by phone scammers, and it is taking a toll particularly on some victims in regional and rural Australia.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Denali]

The thing that annoys me most about the scammers is your home is your sanctuary and these callers invade your home, your private life and if constant you suffer a lack of enjoyment/relaxation at home because of the aholes.

There needs to be more done about it and punish them financially.