- Suspicious
One contributor reported a call from 02 7235 7820 (0272357820) claiming to be from the AFP regarding a suspect at Victoria Airport, then hanging up.
AFP Impersonation Report for 02 7235 7820
A contributor has reported receiving a call from 02 7235 7820 (also written as 0272357820) where the caller claimed to be from the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The caller mentioned a suspect at Victoria Airport and then abruptly ended the call without further explanation or follow-up.
This type of impersonation is a known social engineering tactic. Callers posing as law enforcement often use vague claims about criminal activity or airport security to create urgency and manipulate recipients into providing personal information or complying with instructions.
What the Caller from 02 7235 7820 Said
According to the contributor's report, the person claiming to represent the AFP stated there was a suspect at Victoria Airport. No specific details were provided about what the suspect allegedly did, what the recipient's connection was, or what action was required. The call ended abruptly, which is atypical for legitimate law enforcement contact.
The rapid disconnection after making an unsubstantiated claim is characteristic of probe calls, where scammers test whether a number is active and responsive before attempting a more elaborate follow-up contact.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 7235 7820
If 02 7235 7820 contacts you:
- Do not: Provide personal information, financial details, passport numbers, or any identifying information
- Do not: Follow instructions to transfer money, purchase gift cards, or use cryptocurrency
- Do not: Confirm your identity or answer security questions
- Do: Hang up immediately
- Do: If the caller claims to be AFP, independently contact the AFP through their official phone number (search for it yourself or use the Australian Government website) to verify the claim
- Do: Block the number to prevent further contact attempts
How to Report 02 7235 7820
If you receive a suspicious call from 02 7235 7820 impersonating the AFP or any other authority, report it to relevant Australian authorities:
- Scamwatch: Report the call at scamwatch.gov.au
- ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority investigates telemarketing violations and scam calls at acma.gov.au
- Australian Federal Police: If the impersonation involves false claims about criminal activity, report directly to the AFP at afp.gov.au
- Reverseau: Contribute your experience on Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 7235 7820!
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What Our Users Reviewed
Someone called saying they were from AFP about suspect at Victoria Airport then hung up
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WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would someone impersonate the AFP when calling from 02 7235 7820?
Impersonating law enforcement creates immediate psychological pressure and perceived authority. When a caller from 02 7235 7820 claims to be from the AFP, they're exploiting the assumption that people will cooperate without verifying. This tactic buys time for the caller to extract information before the recipient becomes suspicious.
Is it normal for the AFP to hang up without explaining why they called?
No. Legitimate AFP contact would clearly explain the purpose, provide reference information, and remain on the line to address your questions. An abrupt hang-up after an unsubstantiated claim about a suspect at Victoria Airport, as reported for 02 7235 7820, is a red flag indicating the call was not genuine.
What should I do if 0272357820 calls me claiming there's a security issue?
Do not engage. Hang up immediately and do not provide any information. If you believe there may be a genuine security concern at an airport, contact the AFP directly using their official contact details from afp.gov.au, never numbers provided by the caller.
Could this be a legitimate cold call from the AFP?
Genuine AFP contact about airport security investigations would follow formal procedures, provide identifiable reference information, and not hang up abruptly. The call from 02 7235 7820 lacks these characteristics, making it highly unlikely to be legitimate.
How can I verify if someone claiming to be AFP is actually calling from them?
Never use a phone number provided by the caller. Instead, end the call, look up the AFP's official contact number independently on afp.gov.au, and call them directly to verify whether they attempted to contact you. This method protects you from being transferred to scammers.
Should I report this call from 02 7235 7820 to anyone?
Yes. Report the impersonation to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, the ACMA at acma.gov.au, and directly to the AFP at afp.gov.au. Each agency tracks patterns of impersonation, and multiple reports help identify coordinated scam operations. You can also contribute your experience on Reverseau.