We can't prevent every single scam that comes along. But with our new Scam Protect feature and some common-sense security tips, you'll have a much better chance at identifying and avoiding scam calls on your Telstra mobile service. Let's take a look at:
Have you recently received a call from a number you don't know? While it certainly could've been from someone you know, there's also a high chance it could have been a scam call. That's because one in three reported scams happen by phone.
Scammers frequently use phone calls to deceive people, as it's much harder to confirm the caller's identity from their voice.
Scammers often pretend to be from a trusted organisation, like your bank - or even Telstra. And they'll try to create a scenario with a sense of urgency so you feel compelled to follow their instructions and hand over your personal information in the process. You might hear something like this:
There's been an unauthorised payment of $300 from your savings account and we need your bank account details so we can help you reverse this transaction.
But think twice! Shouldn't it be your bank that has your bank account details? Scammers can be very convincing and we know how easy it is to let your guard down.
Scam Protect is a free, auto-activated security feature on your Telstra mobile phone service that alerts you to suspicious incoming calls.
It follows a series of free security features we've launched recently, like Device Security Essentials and Scam Indicator to help protect you and your family.
If a suspected scam call is trying to make its way through, Scam Protect will send you a message in real time, alerting you to what type of call it could be.
Scam Protect is designed to enhance your security by helping you decide when it's better to decline or send an incoming call to voicemail. You can be assured that Scam Protect won't affect your call experience or quality either.
The three messages to look out for are:
'So what else can I do to protect myself from scam calls?', you might ask. While we have some great new security features for your phone and internet, nothing replaces good common sense.
If you get a call from a number you don't know, it's best to let it go to voicemail. And if you're not sure if a caller is who they say they are, it's ok to hang up. Also, if you miss a call and feel unsure, the Scam Protect alert will appear in your missed call log.
Never use the contact details given by a caller, written in an email or an SMS. Scammers can easily impersonate someone calling from a major company or organisation.
Fact check: look up the official contact information on the organisation's website or another trusted source.
Scammers like to create a sense of urgency. That's why it's so important to stop and check.
Ask yourself if you really know who you're communicating with and never give out any personal information, financial details or remote access to your computer.
Immediately hang up on anyone who tries to threaten or intimidate you.
Familiarise yourself with the different types of active phone scams our Cyber Security team has found.
Always be sceptical of deals that seem unusually generous or unrealistic.
It's important to verify the legitimacy of such offers by checking the source and doing research more taking any action.
Remember, if something feels off, it's better to be cautious and protect yourself from potential scams.
According to Scamwatch (led by the government's National Anti-Scam Centre), Aussies have reported financial losses of $71.9 million AUD from scam calls since the beginning of 2024. Put another way, this staggering amount makes a mockery of honest hard work, destroys retirement plans and stops much-needed holidays - all because of deceitful behaviour.
The impact of being scammed goes way beyond financial harm. It causes emotional distress, affects mental health and lowers confidence in communication technologies too.
Scam calls can target anyone - from young professionals to retirees, directly exploiting their trust. That's why it's so important to be aware and stay vigilant.
Scam Protect is a new security feature designed to warn you about fraudulent and suspicious calls on your smartphone.
When a suspicious call is detected, Scam Protect sends a warning message to your phone to alert you.
There are three types of warnings that look like this:
⚠️Warning: Potential Fraud
⚠️ Warning: Suspicious Calling Pattern
⚠️ Unverified: Overseas Call
This warning indicates that the call may be fraudulent. It is applied to calls with spoofed numbers (when a scammer falsifies a number to make it look legitimate so you're tricked into answering it) or suspicious calling patterns.
This warning indicates a high volume of incoming traffic from a single number. This pattern is associated with potential spam and is an alert for you to exercise caution.
This warning indicates that the call is coming from overseas and may be suspicious. Note, this will only show for suspicious calls.
Scam Protect is designed to enhance your call experience by providing warnings for potentially fraudulent or suspicious calls. It does not affect the quality of your calls.
No. If your contact numbers are stored in a phone book or controlled by other applications on your device, these will not be overwritten by Scam Protect's text.
*A display name is the name of a contact that appears on your phone's screen when you receive a call.
At this time, there is no option for individual customers to opt out of receiving the warnings, as these are part of the overall security and identification enhancements deployed by Telstra.
Some phones may have an inbuilt 'suspicious call indicator' that is similar to Telstra's Scam Protect feature.
Scam Protect is auto-installed on your mobile service by Telstra. It will not overwrite or interfere with your phone's 'suspicious call indicator' which will have been installed by the phone manufacturer.
Learn what you can do if you've spotted a scam pretending to be Telstra or if you notice unusual expenses on your Telstra account.
If you or someone you know has been scammed, report it. It helps to stop scammers and warn others.
Report a scam
