Australia’s Scam Number List: Numbers You Should Block Immediately

Reluctant to answer unknown numbers? You’re not the only one. A Commonwealth Bank study found Aussies receive an average of 250 scam attempts each year. And the humble telephone–both mobile and landline–is a popular platform for shady fraudsters.

This post covers how to protect yourself from irritating and financially perilous scam calls.

Why Scam Calls Are on the Rise in Australia

Scam calls are becoming increasingly common in Australia for one simple reason: they work. In 2023, Aussies lost a whopping $2.7 billion to scams, equivalent to our entire wine export industry. Many scams start with a seemingly innocent phone call.

Technological advancements are also driving the trend.

• Off-shore scam centres use spoofing to mimic Australian numbers.
• Hackers infiltrate corporate databases and sell sensitive personal information–including phone numbers–to scammers on the dark web.
• Autodialling machines call random numbers 24/7 and make a list of active users.

Scams are more profitable and easier to pull off than ever. But there are ways to protect yourself.

A list of scammer phone numbers in Australia

Australia doesn’t have a government database of scam phone numbers to block. But there are other ways to identify suss numbers.

If you missed a call from an unknown number and aren’t sure it’s legit, you can try a free reverse look-up service. Truecaller, for example, lets you type in the number and review feedback from other users. More often than not, you’ll see if it’s a scammer.

According to News.com.au, many scam calls in Australia start with the seven-digit 0480 036 XXX prefix. However, that doesn’t mean all scammers use these digits or that everyone with this prefix is a scammer.

How Do You block Spam Calls on your Device?

With scam calls becoming a major nuisance, tech giants have developed workarounds. While the following features aren’t foolproof, they work most of the time.

How to identify and block spam calls on Android

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap on the three dots (top right corner).
3. Choose Settings.
4. Tap on Call ID and spam (under call assist).
5. Enable See caller and spam ID to get a warning every time a suspected scammer calls.
6. Enable Filter spam calls to automatically silence calls from suspected scammers.

Modern Samsung phones also have an in-built tool called Smart Call to help weed out unwanted calls.

How can I block scam calls on iOS

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on Phone
3. Enable Silence Unknown Callers

As much as we love Apple, its built-in iOS spam prevention feature doesn’t match Android’s. Thus, many iPhone fanboys use a third-party anti-spam app, such as Truecaller, which also provides our favourite reverse look-up service.

How to Receive Fewer Scam Calls

The best solution is to stop answering unfamiliar numbers. If it’s important, the caller will leave a voice mail or SMS.

Answering a scammer isn’t just a one-off annoyance; it could lead to more unsolicited calls. Autodiallers, also known as robocalls, phone random numbers to compile a list of active numbers. Picking up the phone and saying “hello” will see you receive more uninvited phone calls in the future.

Of course, this tactic gets tricky when you’re expecting a call from an unknown number. One workaround is to Google the number and call them back.

Don’t engage if you do receive a call from a human scammer. While it’s satisfying to waste their time, you’ll likely join a “willing to engage” shortlist and receive even more annoying calls.

The ACMA created the Do Not Call Register to reduce unsolicited advertising calls. Once registered, telemarketers can’t legally call you without your permission, though some exemptions (educational institutes, polling organisations, etc.) exist. If you receive a marketing call from a non-exempt organisation, you can lodge a complaint with the ACMA. Of course, scammers don’t comply with government regulations. So, while signing up for the Do Not Call Register is wise, it won’t protect you from common Australian scam calls.

What Is the Australian Government Doing to Reduce Scam Calls?

The ACMA obliges carriage service providers (CSPs) to identify and block scam calls, resulting in 2.1 billion fewer calls since December 2020. The authority has also established a Scam Telecommunications Action Taskforce and funded online consumer awareness campaigns. 

Backed by $180 million of funding, the National Anti-Scam Centre tackles various fraudulent activities, including telephone scams. Furthermore, the Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2025 forces businesses in key industries to detect, report, and disrupt scams. If you have fallen victim to a scam, you can report it to Scamwatch, the Australian Cyber Security Centre hotline (1300 292 371), or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000).

Scam Prevention Tips for Australians

The following will show you how to identify scam phone numbers and respond to them.

• Treat all inbound phone calls with suspicion, especially too-good-to-be-true offers or requests for personal information.
• If you have any doubts, hang up and call the institution back using the phone number from its official website.
• Scammers pressure victims through urgency, so be wary of limited-time offers and urgent requests.
• Don’t believe any threats of legal action or fines; call the relevant authority to confirm.
• Never disclose financial information over the phone, such as bank account details and card numbers, unless you are 100% sure the caller is legitimate. 
• Never EVER provide a one-time PIN (2FA) to anyone, even if they appear to be from your bank.

No legitimate institution will ever request payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards.

Safeguard Yourself from Scams with Geeks2U

Worried about falling victim to scam calls or cybercrime? Geeks2U offers a comprehensive Digital Wellness Check to protect you from hackers, scammers, and malware.

Contact us today for a no-obligation quote.

FAQ

• 1. How can I find a list of scammer phone numbers in Australia?

  A reverse look-up service like Truecaller lists most known scam phone call numbers in Australia.

• 2. How do I block scam calls on my phone?

  Both Android and iPhone have in-built spam-blocking features, or you can use a third-party app like Truecaller.

• 3. What are the most common scam call tactics in Australia?

  Most scam calls impersonate banks or other well-known institutions like telcos.

• 4. Where can I report scam calls in Australia?

  You can report scam calls to your telco or Scamwatch.

• 5. How can I protect myself from scam calls?

  The best way to avoid scam calls is to stop answering unknown numbers.