Scam & Spam Calls in Australia: January 2026 Report

• Reverseau
• Report
• Jan 2026

Over 11,000 scam and spam call reports hit Reverseau in January 2026. Discover the top phone scams targeting Australians, when they strike, and how to protect yourself.

In January 2026 alone, the Reverseau community submitted 11,271 reports about suspicious, spam, and outright dangerous phone calls and text messages across Australia. That's an average of 364 reports every single day — real Australians flagging real numbers in real time.

While official government statistics from bodies like the ACCC's Scamwatch are published quarterly, Reverseau's community data provides a real-time pulse on scam activity across the country. And the picture it paints for the start of 2026 is a sobering one: more than half of all reports — 51.7%, to be precise — were flagged as either a scam or highly suspicious. Scammers clearly didn't take a summer holiday.

Here's what those 11,000+ reports tell us about the state of phone scams in Australia right now, and what you can do to stay one step ahead.

At a Glance: 5 Key Takeaways from January 2026

1. Over half of all reported calls are scams or spam. Of 11,271 reports, 5,831 (51.7%) were flagged as dangerous scams or suspicious spam — meaning if you get an unknown call, the odds aren't in your favour.
2. Solar and energy rebate scams dominate. With 508 reports, fake "government solar rebate" calls were the single biggest scam category, outpacing even bank impersonation.
3. Bank impersonation is relentless. 389 reports described calls and texts pretending to be from CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, or NAB — often 20+ calls a day to the same person.
4. Nearly 1 in 4 reports involve SMS. Text-based scams accounted for 23.4% of all reports (2,639), showing scammers are increasingly hitting your inbox, not just your earpiece.
5. Mid-week is prime scam time. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday see the heaviest scam activity — five times the volume of a quiet Sunday.

Detailed Breakdown: The Top Scam Types Targeting Australians

1. Solar & Energy Rebate Scams — 508 Reports

The undisputed frontrunner for January 2026. These calls typically originate from overseas call centres and push fabricated "government solar rebates" or energy savings schemes. Callers introduce themselves under names like "Energy Savers," "Smart Choice," or "green.com" — brands that don't hold up to a quick search.

The playbook is remarkably consistent: the caller asks whether you own your home, then launches into a pitch about a rebate you're supposedly entitled to. Report after report describes the same behaviour — they hang up immediately if you mention you're renting or already have solar panels installed. It's a numbers game, and they're playing it aggressively.

What makes these calls particularly frustrating is the number rotation. Community members report that scammers cycle through similar number ranges, changing the last two digits daily to dodge call-blocking apps and manual blocks. Multiple reports also note that being on the Do Not Call Register makes no difference whatsoever — these operators simply ignore it.

How to protect yourself: No legitimate government rebate programme will cold-call you. If you're genuinely interested in solar incentives, go directly to your state government's energy website. And if they call, don't engage — just hang up and report the number on Reverseau.

2. Bank Impersonation Scams — 389 Reports

The second most reported category, and arguably the most dangerous. These scams impersonate Australia's Big Four banks — Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, and NAB — via both phone calls and SMS.

The tactics are polished. Victims describe receiving calls alerting them to a "suspicious transaction" — amounts ranging from $400 to $9,800 — and being asked to "verify" personal details to secure their account. Some calls use automated robocall voices that sound convincingly official, at least initially. SMS variants include fake verification codes and links to "secure your account" on phishing websites.

As one community member reported:

"A scammer pretending to be Commonwealth Bank just tried to get me to authorise an $1,800 transaction!"

Another described the sheer persistence:

"This number keeps ringing me, claiming to be from Westpac... I'm getting 20+ calls a day from them!"

That kind of volume isn't just annoying — it's designed to wear you down until you pick up and engage.

How to protect yourself: Your bank will never ask you to share passwords, PINs, or one-time codes over the phone. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call your bank directly using the number on the back of your card. Never click links in unsolicited SMS messages. Look up the number on Reverseau to see if others have reported it.

3. Telstra & Telco Impersonation Scams — 311 Reports

"Hi, this is Kevin from Telstra" — except it's not. With 311 reports, fake Telstra tech support calls were the third-largest scam category in January. These callers claim your internet connection is "compromised," your "IP address is public," or that there's suspicious activity on your account. The end goal is almost always to get you to grant remote access to your computer or phone.

Reports consistently describe callers using fake Anglo names, and many hang up angrily when challenged. One community member shared a brilliant exchange:

"I replied 'you have my phone number cause you just rang it.' She told me to stop being a smart arse and hung up."

Fair dinkum — that's one way to handle it. But the reality is these scams can be devastatingly effective against people who aren't tech-savvy, particularly older Australians.

How to protect yourself: Telstra — and any legitimate telco — will never cold-call you to say your internet is compromised or ask for remote access to your devices. If in doubt, hang up and contact Telstra directly through their official channels.

4. Remote Access & Tech Support Scams — 94 Reports

Often working hand-in-hand with the Telstra impersonation scams above, these 94 reports describe callers who ask victims to open specific apps, install remote desktop software, or grant screen-sharing access. Once they're in, they can harvest banking credentials, install malware, or lock you out of your own device entirely.

How to protect yourself: Never install software or grant screen access at the request of an unsolicited caller. Full stop.

5. Crypto & Investment Scams — 87 Reports

A newer but growing threat. Reports describe AFP (Australian Federal Police) impersonation calls linked to cryptocurrency wallet theft, as well as unsolicited pitches for "investment opportunities" promising unrealistic returns. These scams prey on both the crypto-curious and people who already hold digital assets.

How to protect yourself: The AFP will never call you about your cryptocurrency holdings. Legitimate investments don't come via cold calls. If it sounds too good to be true, it absolutely is.

6. Government Impersonation Scams — 76 Reports

These scams exploit the authority of government agencies — primarily the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

AFP impersonation calls typically involve a fake "detective" warning about open cases, pending arrests, or identity theft. ATO scams lean on automated messages about outstanding tax debts, often beginning with "press 1 for English, 2 for Mandarin."

Community members flagged these with quotes like:

"Pretending to be AFP. Trying to get data about your crypto wallet."

"Fake number used by scammers to leave fake voicemails: 'detective Lewis, Aussie federal police.'"

How to protect yourself: Neither the AFP nor the ATO will ever threaten you with immediate arrest over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up and report it to both Scamwatch and Reverseau.

7. Delivery & Brand Impersonation Scams — 41 Reports

Rounding out the top categories are fake parcel delivery notifications and brand impersonation texts — including fraudulent Qantas frequent flyer points messages. These rely on the fact that most of us are expecting a delivery at any given time.

How to protect yourself: Track parcels only through the retailer's official website or app. Qantas will never text you out of the blue about points. When in doubt, look up the number before clicking anything.

Where and When: Geographic & Timing Analysis

Most Targeted States

Scam call reports correlate broadly with population size, but the distribution is worth noting. Of the reports that could be attributed to a state by phone number prefix:

Notably, 48.2% of all reports (5,438) came from mobile or VoIP numbers that couldn't be attributed to a specific state — a reflection of how scammers increasingly use internet-based calling to mask their origin.

When Scammers Strike

Scam calls follow a clear weekly rhythm. Tuesday is the peak day with 2,214 reports, followed by Wednesday (2,134) and Thursday (2,010). Activity drops on Friday and Monday, and falls to roughly a fifth of peak volume on weekends — Sunday recorded just 412 reports.

Looking at the daily trend across the month, the data reveals a pattern of spikes followed by sharp dips — the highest single day saw approximately 817 reports (January 20), while the quietest day recorded around 75 (January 24). This wave pattern strongly suggests organised campaign bursts: scam operations ramp up, blast calls for a few days, then pause before the next wave.

Scammer Tactics Exposed: How They Operate

Beyond the scam categories themselves, the 11,271 reports reveal consistent behavioural patterns that every Australian should know about:

Number rotation at scale. Scammers don't just use one number — they cycle through ranges, typically changing only the last two digits. This means blocking one number barely slows them down. It's why 1,038 reports (9.2%) specifically mentioned blocking a number, often in frustration at seeing a near-identical one call the next day.

Call-and-hang-up probing. Many reports describe robocalls that disconnect the moment you answer. The purpose isn't to scam you in that call — it's to confirm your number is active and answered, marking it as a live target for future campaigns.

Disconnected callbacks. When curious victims call the number back, they often find it's "no longer connected." Scammers use spoofed or temporary numbers, so the number that appears on your caller ID may never have been a real, active line.

The Do Not Call Register gap. A total of 55 reports explicitly complained about receiving scam calls despite being registered on Australia's Do Not Call Register. The register is effective against legitimate telemarketers, but international scam operations — which make up the bulk of these calls — simply ignore it.

Emotional manipulation playbook. Across categories, scammers rely on three emotional levers: urgency ("your account is compromised right now"), authority ("this is the Australian Federal Police"), and fear ("you will be arrested if you don't comply"). Recognising these tactics is half the battle.

How to Protect Yourself: 7 Practical Tips

1. Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail — and even then, verify independently before calling back.

2. Never share personal or financial details over the phone. No bank, telco, or government agency will ask for your password, PIN, or one-time verification code via an unsolicited call.

3. Hang up and call back on an official number. If a caller claims to be from your bank or a government agency, end the call and contact the organisation directly using the number on their official website.

4. Don't click links in unsolicited texts. SMS scams accounted for 23.4% of January's reports. If you receive a text about a delivery, transaction, or account issue, navigate to the company's website or app directly rather than tapping any link.

5. Use Reverseau to look up suspicious numbers. Before engaging with any unknown caller, search the number on Reverseau to see if the community has flagged it. Chances are, someone else has already reported it.

6. Report every scam call or text. The more reports our community submits, the faster we can warn others. Reporting takes just seconds and helps protect thousands of Australians.

7. Keep your devices and apps updated. Ensure your phone's operating system and any call-screening apps are up to date for the latest protections against spoofed numbers.

How Reverseau Helps: Australia's Community Early Warning System

Reverseau is built on a simple but powerful idea: when Australians share their experiences with suspicious phone numbers, everyone benefits. Every one of those 11,271 January reports was submitted by a real person who took a moment to warn their fellow Australians — and that collective effort creates something no single organisation can replicate.

Here's how it works:

• Look up any phone number — search Reverseau's database to instantly see community reports, scam ratings, and caller descriptions before you decide whether to pick up or call back.
• Report a suspicious number — it takes seconds, and your report immediately helps the next person who searches for that number.
• Track trends in real time — because our data is community-generated and updated continuously, Reverseau often surfaces emerging scam campaigns days or weeks before they appear in official quarterly reports.

Think of Reverseau as a neighbourhood watch for your phone. The more Australians who participate, the harder it becomes for scammers to operate undetected.

We work alongside official resources like the ACCC's Scamwatch and ACMA — they handle enforcement and policy, while Reverseau provides the grassroots, real-time intelligence that helps you make informed decisions about unknown callers every day.

The Bottom Line

January 2026's data tells a clear story: scam and spam calls remain a persistent, evolving threat to Australians. With over 5,800 negative reports in a single month — from solar rebate cons to bank impersonation and everything in between — the scale of the problem is significant. But it's not all doom and gloom.

Every report submitted to Reverseau is a small act of community defence. When you flag a dodgy number, you're not just venting — you're building a shield for the next person who receives that same call. And with more than 11,000 reports in January alone, it's clear that Australians are fighting back.

Stay sceptical. Stay informed. And if something doesn't feel right, trust your gut.

Look up a suspicious number now — or report one to help protect the community. Together, we're making it harder for scammers to get away with it.

This report is based on 11,271 community-submitted reports to (Reverseau) during January 2026. All data is aggregated and anonymised. No individual phone numbers or personal details are disclosed.