Scam phone calls in Australia: how to check a number and what to do
Quick answer
There is no reliable way to tell a scammer from a phone number alone, because numbers can be faked. If an unexpected caller claims to be a bank, business or government agency, hang up and call the number on the organisation's own website. Report it to Scamwatch.
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How it works
Scamwatch, run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, says scam calls cost Australians $141 million last year. It lists phone scams alongside text, email, social media and website scams as the main ways scammers reach you.
Scam messages and calls are designed to look like they come from the government, a business you deal with, or even your family or friends. The caller gives you a reason to act fast: a problem with an account, money you're owed, or a chance to invest. Scamwatch's list of scam types includes phishing (getting you to give out bank account numbers, passwords or card details), investment scams, and money recovery scams, where scammers contact people who were already scammed and say they can get the money back.
Searching a number can help you spot a pattern. It can't prove a call is safe. A number that has no reports may simply be new, and a real organisation's number can be copied onto a call that didn't come from it.
Red flags
- An unexpected call that says there is a problem with your account, or money you are owed
- Pressure to act or pay straight away
- A caller who asks for passwords, bank account numbers or card details
- An offer to recover money you lost in an earlier scam
- A number that looks local or official: it can be copied onto the call
Example message
Hello, this is the fraud team at your bank. We've seen a suspicious payment on your account. To secure it, I need you to confirm your card details now. If you'd rather call back, use [phone number].
What to do
- 1
Hang up and don't call back the number they gave you
If the call claimed to be from a bank, a business or a government agency, find that organisation's number on its own website or on your card, and call that instead.
- 2
Don't give out personal or payment details
Don't share passwords, bank account numbers or card details with someone who contacted you first.
- 3
If you gave details or paid, call your bank or card provider now
Scamwatch says to contact your bank or credit card provider straight away and ask them to stop any transactions.
- 4
Change the passwords the scammer could have seen
Start with email and banking, and use a different password for each account.
- 5
Report it to Scamwatch
Your report helps Scamwatch warn others and, with your consent, work with organisations to remove scam websites, scam ads and contact details.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers often start with your name and phone number, and those are easy to find on people-search sites and in data from breaches. The more of your details are public, the more believable the call sounds. Serus finds where your phone number and address are listed and requests removal, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
Frequently asked
Can I look up a scammer's phone number?
You can search a number, but results aren't proof either way. Numbers can be copied onto calls, and new scam numbers have no history. Verify the caller through the organisation's own published number instead.
Where do I report a scam call in Australia?
Use the Scamwatch report form. Scamwatch says reports help it warn the community and work with organisations to remove scam contact details.
What if I've already given my bank details?
Contact your bank or credit card provider straight away and ask them to stop any transactions.
Someone says they can recover money I lost to a scam. Is that real?
Be careful. Scamwatch lists money recovery scams, where scammers target earlier victims and pretend they can get the money back.
Sources
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