What if you received a phone call or text from an unknown and suspicious number? Staying vigilant protects you against phone scams to avoid financial loss or identity theft. This guide will show you how to spot scam phone numbers and protect against them. You’ll also discover our list of scammer phone number lookup tools in Australia that can help you identify suspicious calls and texts.
How to Spot a Scammer’s Phone Number
Identifying a scammer’s phone number is one of the first steps in avoiding them. That said, be wary of calls or texts from people you don’t know, especially those that seem to come from known brands and government agencies. Here are additional steps to help you spot them on time:
- Scam area codes
First, look at the area code. Then check a list of scam area codes such as 268, 284, 473, 664, 649, 767, 809, 829, 849 and 876. Inc.com and Gobankingrates also have an extensive number of scam area codes you can check out.
- Disguised phone numbers or texts
You might receive a call from a phone number that appears local. On occasions, it might be cloned to look like calls from popular organizations in your area.
- Faked text messages
If it’s a text message, they might copy real text messages and logos from popular companies you know. It might even appear in the same message chain as real messages from an organization you use.
- Fake friends and family
You might receive a text message from someone pretending to be a family member, friend, or acquaintance who is desperate for money. They might claim to have a new phone and need help in a crisis.
- One-ring scams
Scammers may also leave voicemails requesting that you call back urgently saying that a relative is sick or claiming some other urgent matter. These scammers use robo-dialers to call you. When you call back, they might charge you connectivity fees, and per-minute fees which you’ll find on your phone bills.
- It sounds too good to be true
If someone said that you were sent prize money you did nothing for, a package you didn’t buy, or offers products at ridiculously low prices, it’s simply fake and likely a scammer.
- Asking for personal details
Scammers might also ask for personal details trying to convince you that they are a legitimate business. Often, this type of call or text message might include links or attachments. Do not click on an attachment in a text message unless you are completely sure of it.
- Pressures you to act quickly
Scammers would often try to use urgency to their advantage. Their goal in rushing you is to avoid giving you time to double-think your actions. If someone’s trying to convince you of an emergency or offering a discount that ends very soon, it’s best to hang up.
Best Scammer Phone Number Lookup for Australians
If you received a phone call or message from a suspicious number, you may wonder – is this number a scammer in Australia? A great way to know is by using a free scam phone number lookup tool to validate your reservations. Here are some favorite scammer phone number lookup tools in Australia to try.
CyberTrace
CyberTrace is a great free scam phone number lookup. It will look up details about who owns the phone number especially if it’s connected to a business. It may even analyze numbers based on its risk analytical tool to help determine your risks of returning that call. To use this tool:
- Go to Cybertrace. Enter the Australian phone number.
- Tap “Search.”
- Once it’s done, you should see the results.
💰Pricing: Free
Truecaller
Truecaller also allows you to check scammer phone numbers. This tool keeps a database of reported phone numbers and will also check to see if the phone number is connected to a business. To use Truecaller:
- Go to Truecaller scammer phone number lookup
- Enter the phone number and tap the search icon.
- Go through the results.
💰Pricing: Free
Reverse Australia
If you are looking for a forum dedicated to reporting scam phone numbers in Australia, this tool is the answer. Here you won’t just confirm scam phone numbers but look at details about what the caller discussed with its victims.
- Go to Reverse Australia. Enter the phone number
- Tap the Search icon.
- If there are reports about that phone number you will see it. Otherwise, you’ll be prompted to leave a detailed comment about your interaction with the number.
💰Pricing: Free
Person Lookup
Person Lookup is a great scammer phone number lookup tool in Australia. However, it’s dedicated to not just confirming a scam number but finding details about any phone number. Here you’ll find whatever data is available on the internet about the owner of that phone number. This can include their name, phone numbers, email addresses, property data, workplace, social media accounts, and more.
- Go to PersonLookup and enter the phone number and other details you might have. Tap the search button.
- If the phone number is linked to any individual, you will see the data. However, if the phone number links to a business, you might not get any results.
💰Pricing: Free
List of Scammer Phone Numbers in Australia
If you’ve received a call or text message from a phone number and want to verify if it’s a scammer or not, several websites list scammer phone numbers in Australia. However, here are the top ten list of scammer phone numbers in Australia that you need to know about:
- Landline: +61 2 6176 0835 (Number was used to ask customers to pay for McAfee renewal)
- Landline: +61 2 6176 0835 (Number was used to request payment for McAfee renewal)
- Landline: +61 2 8011 4180 (Number was used to ask VISA customers for “Greek Protection Plans”.
- Mobile: 0434597514 (Used to send a pre-recorded message about NBN disconnecting you and then transferring you to an Indian call center operator)
- Mobile: 0438 999 862 (The pre-recorded message was “TFN Number suspended. Going to Jail”. Then transferred to an Indian call center operator)
- Mobile: 0438 999 852 (The pre-recorded message was that the Australian Border Security Arrest Warrant has been issued for your arrest. This was followed by a transfer to a Border Security agent).
- Mobile: Calls from unknown random numbers beginning from 0480 036 (were used to harass people about free vaccines).
To find more regular scammer phone numbers in Australia, you can also check the National Anti-Scam quarterly updates, WikiHow, and GoBankingRates for an updated list of scammer phone numbers in Australia.
How to Protect Yourself from Scams
It’s important to safeguard yourself from scams via phones or SMS. Here’s how:
- Don’t answer: If you see a call from a suspicious person, let the call go to voicemail. If the caller leaves a number, use a scammer phone number lookup tool in Australia to check it out.
- Don’t reply or click on links on suspicious text messages: Always confirm that whoever sends a message or calls is who they said they are. Look for things like a strange sender name, number, or bad spelling – anything that does not look right. If you receive a message with a link, it’s much better to try browsing on your own about the website or app or a different phone number instead of clicking on the link.
- Never reveal personal information: Avoid sending money or sensitive information like banking details, login information, passwords, and multi-factor authentication codes to that suspicious number.
- Never give remote access: If callers ask for remote access to your computer, hang up.
- Block callers: Your Android phones and iPhones have built-in settings for blocking spam calls. If you don’t want to use this you can also use scam blocking apps. For your mobile phone:
- Go to Settings > Phone and
- Turn on “Silence Unknown Callers” to send calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail.
- Alternatively, you can block specific numbers. Go to “Recent”. Click the Information icon next to the number. Scroll down and select “Block caller.”
- In the future, you can also check your blocked contact list via “Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.
- Use extra security: Add 2-factor authentication to your banking apps, social media accounts, and email to help get notifications when someone is trying to hack into your accounts. If you receive notifications about unusual activity on your banking apps, call your financial institution to put a freeze on your accounts.
- Add a lock on your home mailbox: This can help stop people from stealing information about your identity.
- Report scam activity: Contact, ReportCyber, or Scamwatch to stop scams from happening to others. If your personal details were stolen, contact IDCare or call 1800 595 160.
FAQ
☑️ Can I track a scammer through a phone number?
Yes, you can track a scammer through a phone number by checking the phone number via a scammer phone number lookup tool. Alternatively, you may also try tracking scammer’s location. MLocator tracks Wi-Fi signals, GPS location data, and cellular data to help find the exact coordinates of any phone number, no matter where they are around the world.
☑️ What happens if you call back a spam number?
Calling a spam number is generally not recommended. Calling back can confirm your number is active, leading to more spam calls. They might charge you exorbitant phone call rates, especially if the number is international. The scammer may also use social engineering tactics to try and steal your personal information or money
☑️ Is it better to block spam calls or just delete them?
Deleting spam calls from your history might stop you from calling that number back. But it won’t stop them from calling you in the future. It’s better to block the number to prevent future calls, providing more effective protection against spam.
☑️ How to check fake call numbers?
You can check a fake number by using a reverse phone lookup service to search for the number and see if there’s any information available such as the owner’s name, location, or user reports. Your phone network carrier may also provide call-blocking and identification services to help flag potential spam or scams.
Wrap Up
Now you know how to identify suspicious calls and texts. Remember to always validate unknown phone numbers. And if something feels off, hang up or delete the message right away. Always use scammer phone number lookup tools to check suspicious numbers and report scams to prevent others from falling victim. When you are cautious about the phone calls or text messages you receive, you can avoid the heartaches of phone scams.
