- Uncertain
- Scam
One report for 02 7820 3409 (0278203409): automated message falsely claiming to be from the Department of Immigration, then connecting to a Chinese-speaking individual.
Government Impersonation Robocall Reports for 02 7820 3409
A contributor has reported receiving a suspicious automated call from 02 7820 3409 (also written as 0278203409) impersonating the Department of Immigration. The call began with a recorded message claiming government authority, then attempted to transfer the recipient to a live individual speaking Chinese after a dial tone and voicemail-like beep. The contributor hung up, recognising the pattern as a likely scam.
This type of attack combines two high-risk tactics: robocall automation to reach large audiences efficiently, and false government impersonation to create urgency and perceived legitimacy. The handoff to a live operator after the recorded prompt is a common technique used to separate victims who pass the initial verification stage.
What Callers from 02 7820 3409 Say
According to the report, the automated message from 0278203409 identifies itself as the Department of Immigration and requests language confirmation via keypad selection. After the contributor navigated the menu options, the system generated a dial tone and voicemail-style beep before connecting to a Chinese-speaking operator. This sequence mimics legitimate government phone systems to bypass initial skepticism.
The fact that a live person was waiting on the other end of 02 7820 3409 suggests a deliberate operation rather than a random robocall, with the operator likely trained to extract personal information or financial details once the call progressed further.
Call Pattern and Recipient Experience
The single report about 02 7820 3409 describes a call that reached the contributor and was answered, placing this in active calling campaigns rather than silent robocalls. The use of a recorded message imitating government processes indicates a scalable operation designed to process multiple calls simultaneously. The contributor's decision to hang up upon hearing a foreign language operator prevented further engagement with the scam.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 7820 3409
If 02 7820 3409 calls you:
- Do not: Press any keypad options, confirm your language selection, or wait for a live operator
- Do not: Provide personal information, date of birth, passport details, or financial information
- Do not: Return the call to 0278203409 if you hang up
- Do: Hang up immediately when you suspect government impersonation
- Do: Contact the Department of Immigration directly using the official phone number from their website to verify any claims
- Do: Block 02 7820 3409 on your phone if the call repeats
How to Report 02 7820 3409
If you receive a call from 02 7820 3409 or 0278203409 impersonating government agencies, report it to:
- Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au - report the government impersonation attempt and preserve call details
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): acma.gov.au - report robocalls and suspected telecommunications misuse
- Department of Immigration: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au - notify them directly of impersonation attempts using their identity
- Reverseau: Add your own report to help other Australians identify patterns with this number
Including specific details such as the exact message played, any menu options presented, and the language spoken by the operator helps authorities track organised calling campaigns.
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 7820 3409!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Impression of scam.
Auto message claiming to be department of immigration. Asked to confirm language via options.
Then connected after a further dial and a VM like beep to a Chinese speaking individual - hung up.
Rang claiming to be immigration, asked me to choose a language and press a button. Hit English and got through to an automated beep then someone speaking Chinese. Hung up fast, smelled like a scam after voice sampling
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 7820 3409!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would a scammer impersonate the Department of Immigration?
Government agencies like the Department of Immigration handle sensitive personal data including passport details, visa status, and financial information. A call from 02 7820 3409 impersonating immigration authority creates urgency and legitimacy, making victims more likely to confirm details or pay fake fees. The foreign language operator in this report suggests targeting non-English-speaking immigrants who may be less familiar with Australian government processes.
What should I do if I already provided information to 02 7820 3409?
Contact your bank immediately if you shared financial details with 0278203409. If you provided passport or visa information, contact the Department of Immigration through their official website to report the impersonation. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and consider placing a fraud alert with relevant agencies. Report the call to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au and provide details about what information was shared.
How can I verify if a call claiming to be from immigration is genuine?
Never trust caller ID for 02 7820 3409 or any unsolicited immigration-related call. Genuine Department of Immigration staff will not ask you to press keys to confirm language or transfer you through confusing phone systems. Always end the call and ring the Department of Immigration directly using the number on their official website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) to verify any claims about your visa or immigration status.
What does the voicemail beep in the 02 7820 3409 call indicate?
The voicemail-like beep reported during the 0278203409 call is a deliberate technical trick to create confusion and suggest the call is being transferred through legitimate systems. It may be an automated tone designed to delay the recipient while the scammer's system routes the call to a live operator, or to suggest a connection to government infrastructure.
Why was there a Chinese-speaking operator on 02 7820 3409?
The presence of a Chinese-speaking operator on 0278203409 suggests the scamming operation targets non-English-speaking communities, potentially recent immigrants or visa holders. Multilingual operators increase the likelihood that victims will engage further, as they may feel more comfortable communicating in their native language and be less familiar with Australian government contact procedures.
Should I report this number to ACMA if it's a scam?
Yes. ACMA (acma.gov.au) should be notified about 02 7820 3409 because it combines robocalling with government impersonation. These are breaches of the Telecommunications Act and Spam Act. Reporting 0278203409 to ACMA helps them identify organised scam networks and contributes to enforcement action against the operators behind the calls.