Current phone scams in Australia
Who Called Australia editorial team · Updated: 31/08/2026
Scam scripts rotate, but the current Australian repertoire is stable enough to name. These are the calls and follow-up texts the community reports most, with the tell that gives each one away. Pattern to remember: impersonate an institution, manufacture urgency, move you to an untraceable payment.
ATO tax debt / arrest robocall
A robocall or accented "officer" claims unpaid tax and an imminent arrest warrant, sometimes naming the Federal Police. Payment is demanded in gift cards, crypto or a transfer while you stay on the line. The tell: the real ATO never threatens arrest on a call and never takes gift cards. Verify any debt yourself in myGov or on 13 28 61.
NBN disconnection / remote access
"Your internet will be disconnected in 24 hours" or "we've detected hackers on your connection" — then a request to install AnyDesk or TeamViewer so a "technician" can fix it, ending with your bank open on screen. The tell: NBN Co is a wholesaler; it never cold-calls customers about disconnection. Nobody legitimate needs remote access to your computer.
Bank impersonation with spoofed caller ID
The most expensive one. The call displays your bank's real 13 number (spoofed), the "fraud team" reports a suspicious transaction, and the fix is moving your money to a "safe account" or reading back the SMS code they just triggered. The tell: banks never ask you to transfer money to safety or to read out codes. Hang up, call the number on your card.
"Hi Mum" family impersonation (WhatsApp/SMS)
A text from an unknown mobile: "Hi Mum, dropped my phone in the toilet, this is my new number" — followed within hours by an urgent bill that needs paying. The tell: call the old number, or ask something only your child would know. One question kills the scam.
Toll roads, Australia Post and myGov texts
Smishing waves impersonating Linkt toll accounts, missed parcel deliveries and myGov "suspended access", all linking to card-harvesting sites. The tell: the link domain. Real services use their own domains and never chase small debts by link-in-text. Type the site address yourself instead of tapping.
One-ring international calls (wangiri)
A missed call from +moving-target country codes that rang once. Calling back lands on a premium line that stalls you for minutes. Full guide to the wangiri trap— short version: if you don't know anyone there, don't call back.
Check, report, block
Check any suspicious number with the reverse lookup — recurring scripts show up in the community reports fast, and the spam barometertracks what's surging. Report scams to Scamwatch; if money or identity details are gone, your bank first, then ReportCyber. Then block the number on your phone — and leave a report here for the next person.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Australians lose to scams?
Reported losses run to hundreds of millions of dollars a year, with total combined losses around the two-billion mark annually in recent National Anti-Scam Centre reporting — and phone and SMS remain among the most common first contacts. The true figure is higher because many victims never report.
Does the ATO ever call people?
Yes, but never with threats of immediate arrest, never demanding payment by gift card or crypto, and never asking you to stay on the line while you pay. Check your myGov inbox or call the ATO's published number (13 28 61) yourself to verify any claimed debt.
I clicked a link in a toll/post text. What now?
If you entered card details, call your bank immediately and have the card blocked. Change any password you typed and enable two-factor authentication. Then report at Scamwatch and delete the message. If you only clicked without entering anything, you're usually fine — but keep an eye on your accounts.
Why do scammers call from a number that looks like mine?
That's 'neighbour spoofing': a display number matching your area code or prefix gets answered more often. The number's real owner usually has no idea it's being used. It's one more reason the display proves nothing.