Australian Tax Office Scammers Blocked in Three-Month Trial

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Leanne Close (L) leaves a press conference with Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Acting Commissioner of Taxation Andrew Mills (R) after the AFP smashed a massive tax fraud syndicate and seized planes, guns, and luxury cars in Sydney on May 18, 2017.Willian West/ Getty Images

Scammers posing as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have had their calls blocked during a joint operation between the Australian government, telco companies, and the national communication regulator.

The scammers used software to mislead mobile phones and fixed phone lines by making calls appear to come from a legitimate phone number used by the ATO.