The ACMA and National Anti-Scam Centre are warning Australians to stay alert to mobile number fraud. You can take simple steps to protect your personal information and phone accounts from scammers.
What is mobile number fraud?
Mobile number fraud happens when scammers take control of your mobile phone number or make changes to your phone account without your permission.
Once they take control of your mobile number, scammers may try to access other accounts linked to it, such as:
- your bank accounts
- myGov
- subscription services
- rewards programs.
Some people experience mobile number fraud when their email account is compromised. At other times, the scammer might have gained access to your ID documents or passwords through phishing attempts or data breaches.
Warning signs
Watch out for:
- unexpected alerts about changes to your mobile account
- verification codes that you didn’t request
- account login attempts or password reset emails you didn’t initiate
- your phone suddenly stops working, shows no signal or switches to ‘SOS only’.
How to protect yourself
STOP. Don’t click links, download attachments, or install apps you weren’t expecting. These can be used to steal your personal information. Don’t share your ID documents or numbers unless you are sure of who you are dealing with.
CHECK. Check whether it’s really your telco company by calling back using the phone number on a bill or official website or app. Check your account regularly for unusual changes or activity. Ask your telco how they would normally contact you and be cautious of contact that differs from this.
PROTECT. Secure your personal details and accounts by using strong, unique passwords or passphrases and update them regularly. Where you can, use multi-factor authentication. Delete emails, including emails you send, with ID documents attached so they can’t be accessed if your email is ever compromised. If your ID is lost or stolen, contact your telco and bank immediately, and replace the documents.
Act quickly if you notice anything suspicious with your mobile service or account. Telcos have obligations to use additional fraud protections when you make a reasonable request.
If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately to stop any payments, and tell your telco. Remember to Stop. Check. Protect.
Staying safe from scams:
- Find out more about how to secure your email.
- Check ACMA’s tips for dealing with phone scams.
- Read ScamWatch’s advice about staying safe or report a scam to ScamWatch.
- IDCARE can help if your identity has been compromised or stolen. Call 1800 595 160 or visit www.idcare.org.
- Use our phone scam educational materials, which include posters in English, 10 other languages and for First Nations Australians, and graphics for social media.
The ACMA supports the government’s Fighting Scams initiative to address scams and online fraud and protect Australians from financial harm. We also support the work of the National Anti-Scam Centre, which coordinates government, law enforcement and the private sector to combat scams.