Scam - automated phone call claiming to be Centrelink advising that they have tried to contact on numerous occasions regarding an application but with no response.
Automated call advises that an application number (080xxx) has been sent to Centrelink head office and need to call (02) 8607 5080.
I called number and quoted application number as advised. The "Centrelink" service representative sounded a dodgy - asked what I was calling in relation to - even though I quoted the number given. Then proceeded to ask questions about what type of payment I was receiving, how long payment has been received for. If ligit Centrelink customer service representative, this information would have been on their system. When I told him same, he said that my local centrelink office had closed its files and have centralised in Canberra.
In background could hear other operators - sounded like an Indian call centre...

I had an identical call to above on 14 Feb 2017, except I thought it was fishy and did not call the number. Purported to be from Centrelink.

I received a call from this no. And as we applied for the pension thought it was legit so called. I think as nothing has come thru yet from Centrlink, and when I got angry with her she hung up on me. Then I checked the no. To find other people had the same thing, realising it was a scam.

got call, prerecorded

7.3.17. I've been scammed- the message seemed genuine and I fell for it...any redress?

As above - received a call from Centrelink asking for pension number... scammers

I to was conned by a call from this number and was scammed into buying Apple ITunes card and give out the numbers - still smarting being out of pocket. Advise Police and Centrelink to take steps to protect my identity.

DEFINITELY A SCAM!!!!!!!
I just rang Centrelink on the above number.

Don't tell them anything and report it to scamwatch.gov.au

Also had this call today, 2.3.17. Scam

This is a SCAM. Centrelink has confirmed this. Don't fall for it. Likely attempt at identity theft.

Yes i had the same call 2nd March 2017 and to call (02) 8607 5080. The phone number is constantly engaged so i decided to google the number and found this site. Thanks for posting that is a scam!

This is a new scam, then. Much appreciated to the people who've already discussed this, I also just had this call. Which is very odd as nobody in this house is on Centrelink payments!

I received a call today (28 Feb around 1.10 pm with similar advise asking me to contact this number. I didn't contact as this sounds silly and the above reports testify that it is a scam.

Today I received an automated message about my Application??? requesting me to ring Canberra (not a free number either) so I'm presently waiting on the Centrelink line...so far 20 minutes and still waiting. I too assumed it was a scam but like to be sure.

Just received this call purpotedly fron centrelink. decided to ring up reverse look up. Found it is a scam.. Thank goodness for this site.

As reported elsewehere with different phone number, scammer claimed to be calling from DHS Centrelink. Mother-in-law told she had not replied to letters requesting information, therefore had to pay $300 as penalty. Of course, she had never received any such letter. Caller had Indian accent, female, speaking very quickly. MIL would have to buy an iTunes card (which she'd never heard of) and given a range of stores to get it from, then someone would call her back and once she had paid the $300, she would then receive cheque for $2400. MIL asked if she could pay by credit card or cash - no, had to be by cheque. Scammer did not explain to MIL why she had to buy card. Caller attempted to bully her into buying card there and then. MIL said she couldn't as she didn't drive but would buy it Saturday from Woolworths? Caller said Woolworths would be fine. How was she going to get to shops on Saturday? By bus. Why can't she get bus now? Also threats re losing her pension if she didn't pay $300. Unfortunately she did give out her pension number but will go into Centrelink on Monday to report this. She was told not to buy card before 9am Saturday "to give caller time to make sure card was ready". Caller said he would come into work specially on Saturday to call her. She was given above number to call, supposedly in Canberra if she was concerned and spoke to male called "Michael". She was also told she had appointment at Centrelink at 11am Monday with "Sylvia Johnson". Note!! - Department of Human Services does not send out cheques and more, all payments are made via direct bank transfer and all payment to them are made via EFT or Bpay, never by any other means. If by any chance a pensioner did owe them money, they would simply deduct it from the pension payments fortnight by fortnight until repaid.

As above and advised of a pending Pension increase, that meant it had to be a scam!! Googled 86075080 and here I am. Thanks very useful service.

police cant do anything if its based overseas because its outside of australias legal jurisdiction - best thing to do is just not engage and hang up

I also had a call from these guys pretending that they were Centrelink. The initial voice said that they had not been able to get in touch with me despite many attempts. I closely monitor my MyGov account, so I know that that isn't true. The voice they used sounds very close to the voice that Centrelink actually uses so it is easy to be tricked. The reference number they gave me was 080-456 and they asked me to call Centrelink at their head office in Canberra on (02) 8607 5080. This is not how Centrelink works. The Centrelink numbers are listed as follows on their website: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/contact-us/phone-us

I have listed the reference number as I suspect that everyone will get the same number.

- As can be seen, the number they gave me does not appear in the contact list. Centrelink works by departments, not by sending everything through one office in another state.
- Another clue that this is a scam is that they answered within 10 seconds of me calling them. Anyone who has dealt with Centrelink at any time knows that it takes at least 20 minutes or longer before a call is answered. If there were indeed putting everyone through one number, it would actually take hours before you call was answered.
- A further clue is that it is answered by someone with an Indian Accent. Again experienced Centrelink 'customers' know that Centrelink does not outsource its staff due to Privacy Laws concerning the information they have.
- Another clue is that when the guy answered, there was a tone similar to that when Skype is used which is very typical of Indian scammers. This is because a computer is used for call spoofing (hacking their caller ID), and to manage all their calls through VOIP.
- Furthermore, he hung up as soon as I started to ask questions. I don't know what type of scam it is, but I think it might be a phishing one where they try to get your personal information for identity theft. He hung up very quickly.

Stay safe out there. If you are not sure if you are dealing with a scam or not, look up the company's number on the internet and call that one, not the number they give you. Any unsolicited calls are likely to be a scam.

My wife took the call, took the application number and phone number, tried calling it, was suspicious and hung up. Then she called genuine Centrelink number for complex enquiries 1800 076 072 and was advised it is a scam. Yes SCAM, SCAM, SCAM.