Number spoofing
Why scam calls can show a real Australian number, even your own, and what you can do about it.
Number spoofing is when a scammer fakes the caller ID on a call, so it looks like it comes from a real, trustworthy number. People are more likely to answer a local number than one that’s private or from overseas. Spoofing is a global problem and has grown in recent years.
How it works
Section titled “How it works”- Scammers usually use automated “robocalling” systems to make calls that show real Australian numbers as the caller ID.
- Neighbour spoofing: the number shown is close to yours, so it looks familiar. For example, if your number is 0411 222 333, the call may show 0411 222 334.
- Your own number: some people get calls that seem to come from their own number. The scammer has spoofed your number and happened to call you.
- Someone else’s number: scammers often use real people’s numbers. When victims call back, they reach the real owner, who has no idea their number is being misused.
If you answer a spoofed call
Section titled “If you answer a spoofed call”You usually hear a recorded message demanding money and threatening consequences if you don’t pay. Some calls put you through to a real person. Scammers often pretend to be government agencies such as Services Australia or Border Force, or companies such as Amazon, eBay, Telstra or NBN Co.
They put you under time pressure and may also try to get personal details to use for other fraud. If you think a call is a scam, hang up straight away and don’t give out any personal information.
What you can do
Section titled “What you can do”There’s no single fix, but these steps help.
On an iPhone
Section titled “On an iPhone”Silence Unknown Callers sends calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts or recent calls straight to voicemail. They still appear in your recent calls. You need iOS 13 or later.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Phone.
- Tap Silence Unknown Callers and turn it on.
On an Android phone
Section titled “On an Android phone”Spam and Call Screen warns you about likely spam callers. You need Android 6.0 or later.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap More options, then Settings.
- Tap Spam and Call Screen and turn it on.
Google also recommends turning on Filter suspected spam calls in the same app. Suspected spam calls then don’t ring your phone; they go silently into your call history.
Other options
Section titled “Other options”- Use a call-blocking app. See Reduce unwanted and scam calls.
- You can’t stop scammers using your number. If it’s being spoofed, record a voicemail greeting saying you know your number may have been used by scammers, so people who call back hear it.
What your provider does
Section titled “What your provider does”Outgoing calls can only leave the network with a caller ID that belongs to the caller’s own account or has been approved for it. This helps stop spoofing from inside the network.
Spoofed calls can still arrive from other networks. Your provider works with its upstream carriers to manage and reduce these calls.
Report spoofing
Section titled “Report spoofing”If your number is being spoofed, report it to the support team. They’ll do what they can to escalate it to other network providers. They can’t guarantee a fix or stop it happening again, but reports help the wider industry crack down on caller ID misuse.