Australians warned of new 'spoof call' scam impersonating consumer watchdog

SBS Australia

6 days ago

Australians are being warned that scammers are reportedly spoofing phone numbers belonging to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in an attempt to steal personal information. The National Anti-Scam Centre, which operates under the ACCC, issued a warning after it became aware of scammers using ACCC phone numbers, which are listed on the agency's official website. Here's what you need to know about the latest scam, how to spot it, and what to do if you are targeted.
The scammers are reportedly using the phone numbers to pretend to be representatives of the ACCC and request personal information from unsuspecting recipients.
According to the National Anti-Scam Centre, the numbers have been "spoofed", and the ACCC does not make calls from the publicly listed numbers. ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said: "Spoofing is when scammers disguise their phone number to make it look like they're calling from a trusted organisation — including government agencies like the ACCC — to deceive people into answering and sharing personal information." "This is a tactic that helps scammers hide their true identity while posing as trusted institutions — it's designed to lower your guard." If a call or message feels suspicious, the ACCC recommends ending the call and contacting the agency directly to verify the information.
In some of the reported incidents, scammers requested sensitive information over the phone, misused the ACCC acronym to impersonate an unrelated organisation, or spoke in a language other than English. The ACCC says it will never 'cold' call or email consumers and ask for personal information such as passwords, bank details, or answers to security questions.
The ACCC also does not charge money for its services and does not threaten or pressure you to stay on the line. If a caller does any of these things, it could be a scam. The ACCC suggests hanging up and reporting the incident. The National Anti-Scam Centre also said 'urgent' requests asking people to 'act immediately' could be a sign of a scam.
If you receive an unusual call, message or email, consider whether it could be fake — even if it appears to come from an organisation you know and trust. The ACCC advises if something feels wrong, it is best to act quickly. End the call, and contact the organisation directly yourself to verify if the call was real or not.
Any scams should be reported to ScamWatch, and messages received on platforms like WhatsApp or iMessage should also be reported. If you have provided personal information, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 and contact your bank immediately.