Australian Phone Scams: Complete Protection Guide for 2026
Australians lost over $3.1 billion to scams in recent years, with phone-based fraud being one of the most common
attack vectors. From fake ATO calls demanding immediate payment to sophisticated Centrelink impersonators,
scammers are becoming increasingly convincing.
This comprehensive guide will help you recognise, avoid, and report phone scams targeting Australians. Plus,
learn how to use reverse phone lookup
Australia to verify suspicious callers before engaging.
The Current State of Phone Scams in Australia
According to Scamwatch, phone scams remain the primary contact method for fraudsters targeting Australians. Key
statistics:
- Over 100,000 phone scam reports annually to Scamwatch
- Average loss per victim exceeds $20,000
- Older Australians (65+) are disproportionately targeted
- Scams spike during tax time (July-October) and holiday seasons
Most Common Australian Phone Scams
1. ATO (Australian Taxation Office) Scams
These remain the most prevalent scams in Australia. Scammers claim you owe tax debt and threaten immediate arrest
if you don’t pay via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Red flags:
- Threats of immediate arrest or deportation
- Demands for payment via iTunes cards, Google Play cards, or crypto
- Pressure to stay on the line and not hang up
- Calling from numbers that look like government lines
Reality: The real ATO will never threaten arrest, demand gift card payments, or ask you to pay a
debt you didn’t know existed without prior written notice.
2. Centrelink/Services Australia Scams
Scammers impersonate Services Australia claiming your payments are suspended, you’ve been overpaid, or your
Medicare details have been compromised.
Red flags:
- Calls about suspended payments you weren’t expecting
- Requests for your Customer Reference Number (CRN)
- Demands to “verify” bank details over the phone
- Threats to cancel your Medicare
3. NBN/Tech Support Scams
These scammers claim your internet is compromised, your NBN connection has issues, or hackers have accessed your
computer.
Red flags:
- Unsolicited calls about “problems” with your connection
- Requests for remote access to your computer
- Claims they’re from “Microsoft,” “Telstra,” or “NBN Co”
- Asking for payment to fix non-existent issues
4. Energy Company Scams
Fake representatives from Origin, AGL, Energy Australia, or other providers offer discounts, claim you’ve been
overcharged, or threaten disconnection.
5. Parcel Delivery Scams
SMS or calls claiming to be from Australia Post, DHL, or FedEx about failed deliveries requiring payment or
personal information.
6. Romance Scams via Phone
After initial contact online, romance scammers often move to phone calls to build trust before requesting money.
7. Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams
Unsolicited calls offering “guaranteed” investment returns or cryptocurrency opportunities are almost always
fraudulent.
How to Verify Suspicious Callers
Before engaging with any suspicious caller, take these steps:
Step 1: Don’t Provide Information
Never give personal details, financial information, or passwords to unsolicited callers, even if they seem to
know information about you.
Step 2: Get the Number
If the caller ID shows a number, note it down. If they claim to be from a specific organisation, ask for a
reference number.
Step 3: Use a Reverse Phone Lookup
Before calling back, use our Australian phone
number lookup tool to check if the number has been reported for scams. Community reports often flag
known scam numbers within hours of new campaigns launching.
Step 4: Call the Organisation Directly
If someone claims to be from the ATO, Centrelink, or your bank, hang up and call the official number from their
website. Never use a number the caller provides.
Recognising Scam Call Patterns
Scam calls typically follow predictable patterns:
- Urgency: “You must act immediately” or “This is your final notice”
- Fear: Threats of arrest, deportation, legal action, or financial loss
- Authority: Claiming to be from government agencies, banks, or police
- Secrecy: “Don’t tell anyone about this call”
- Unusual payment methods: Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers
Protecting Vulnerable Family Members
Older Australians and those less familiar with technology are prime targets. Help protect them by:
- Setting up call blocking on their phones
- Explaining common scam tactics
- Creating a family code word for verifying legitimate calls
- Encouraging them to check with you before acting on suspicious calls
- Bookmarking the phone lookup tool for
easy access
Technical Protection Measures
Enable Call Screening
Modern smartphones and carriers offer call screening features:
- iPhone: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers
- Android: Phone app → Settings → Caller ID & Spam → Filter spam calls
- Telstra: Call Guardian service (free for eligible customers)
Use the Do Not Call Register
While it won’t stop illegal scam calls, registering at donotcall.gov.au reduces legitimate telemarketing, making
suspicious calls more obvious.
Install Call Blocking Apps
Apps like Truecaller or Hiya maintain databases of known scam numbers and can automatically block or warn about
suspicious calls.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
If you’ve already fallen victim to a phone scam:
- Contact your bank immediately: Report the fraud and request a freeze on transactions
- Report to Scamwatch: Visit scamwatch.gov.au to file an official report
- Report to ReportCyber: For cyber-related scams, use cyber.gov.au
- Contact IDCARE: If personal information was compromised, call 1800 595 160
- Change compromised passwords: For any accounts that may be affected
- Monitor your credit: Request a credit report and consider a credit ban
Official Australian Scam Resources
Bookmark these official resources:
- Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au – Report scams and check current alerts
- ACCC: accc.gov.au – Consumer protection information
- ACMA: acma.gov.au – Telecom regulator
- Do Not Call Register: donotcall.gov.au – Reduce telemarketing calls
- Australian Cyber Security Centre: cyber.gov.au – Report cyber scams
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the ATO really call me about tax debts?
The ATO may call about legitimate tax matters, but they will never threaten immediate arrest, demand gift card
payments, or call without prior written correspondence. When in doubt, hang up and call the ATO directly on 13
28 61.
How do scammers get my phone number?
Numbers are obtained through data breaches, purchased lists, social media, random dialling, and publicly
available directories. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to completely prevent your number from reaching
scammers.
Can I trace a scam call?
You can look up the displayed number, but scammers often use spoofed numbers that may belong to innocent parties.
If a number shows suspicious lookup results, it confirms the scam, but a clean result doesn’t guarantee
legitimacy.
Should I answer calls from unknown numbers?
This is personal preference. If you miss a legitimate call, they’ll leave a voicemail or call back. You can
always let unknown calls go to voicemail and then look up the number before returning the call.
Stay Vigilant Against Australian Phone Scams
Phone scams targeting Australians are sophisticated and constantly evolving. Your best defence is knowledge and
verification. Never act under pressure, always verify callers independently, and use tools like our free reverse
phone lookup to check suspicious numbers.
Received a suspicious call? Verify the number instantly using our reverse phone lookup Australia tool—it’s
free, anonymous, and could save you from becoming a scam victim.