- Scam
- Suspicious
Community reports for 02 8090 1766 (0280901766): Multiple contributors targeted by callers impersonating police, detectives, and AFP claiming identity theft. SMS and call scams using urgency tactics.
Police and AFP Impersonation Reports for 02 8090 1766
Five contributors have reported scam activity from 02 8090 1766 (also written as 0280901766), with a clear pattern of callers impersonating Australian law enforcement. The number appears to be misusing the name and authority of legitimate agencies including police, detectives, and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to create false urgency around alleged identity theft.
Four of the five reports about 0280901766 are categorised as scams, indicating high confidence among contributors that this is fraudulent activity. The remaining report describes the same suspicious behaviour. The impersonation tactic is present in all five reports, with callers explicitly claiming to represent official law enforcement agencies.
What Callers from 02 8090 1766 Claim
Contributors who answered calls from 02 8090 1766 report callers claiming to be police officers or detectives. One contributor noted that the caller claiming to be a policeman "couldn't speak properly," suggesting either poor audio quality or a non-native English speaker, which is inconsistent with genuine police calls. Another report describes a call from someone claiming to be a detective discussing personal information theft.
The SMS messages impersonating AFP are particularly deceptive. Multiple text messages from 0280901766 claim the contributor is a "victim of identity theft" and that the AFP is investigating. These messages combine impersonation with urgency tactics designed to panic the recipient into immediate action. One SMS included a phishing link, suggesting the scammers aim to steal login credentials or financial information.
Call and SMS Patterns
The scam activity spans both voice calls and SMS messages. Two reports describe calls from 02 8090 1766 where contributors answered and heard the impersonation attempt directly. Three reports describe SMS messages, including two specifically referencing AFP impersonation with identity theft claims. The reports span from late January to mid-February, indicating ongoing activity from this number.
The combination of calls and SMS from the same number (0280901766) suggests a coordinated campaign rather than isolated incidents. Scammers using multiple contact channels increase the likelihood that at least one message reaches a target who will engage.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 8090 1766
If 02 8090 1766 calls you:
- Do not: Answer if you don't recognise the number, or hang up immediately if you do answer and hear an unexpected caller claiming to be police or AFP
- Do not: Provide any personal information, bank details, passwords, or tax file numbers
- Do not: Follow instructions to download apps, click links, or transfer money
- Do: Hang up and block the number immediately
- Do: If you're concerned about identity theft, contact the AFP directly via their official website or phone number (not a number the caller provided)
- Do: Contact your bank directly using the number on your bank card or statement to verify any claims about your accounts
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 02 8090 1766
If 0280901766 sends you an SMS:
- Do not: Click any links in the message, no matter how official it appears
- Do not: Reply to the SMS or engage with the sender
- Do not: Call any phone number provided in the message
- Do: Delete the message immediately
- Do: Block the number in your phone settings
- Do: Report the SMS as spam to your mobile provider by forwarding it to 0429 999 888
How to Report 02 8090 1766
If you've received calls or messages from 02 8090 1766 (0280901766), report it through official Australian channels:
- Scamwatch: Report the scam at scamwatch.gov.au with details of what the caller claimed and when you were contacted
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Report the number for misuse of telecommunications at acma.gov.au
- AFP (if impersonation occurred): Report the impersonation to the Australian Federal Police at cyber.gov.au or contact your local police station
- Your mobile provider: Contact Symbio Networks (the provider for this number) to report the fraudulent activity
- Reverseau: Add your report to the community database so others can check this number before answering
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8090 1766!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Claimed to be a policeman but couldn't speak properly
Call from detectives about personal info theft
Called claiming to be Binance support, total scammers
Text saying they are AFP and my identity has been stolen.
dodgy text claiming to be from AFP saying I was victim of identity theft
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8090 1766!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would scammers call claiming to be police or AFP?
Impersonating law enforcement creates immediate psychological pressure and trust. Contributors who received calls from 02 8090 1766 report callers claiming identity theft investigations, which makes victims more likely to provide personal information or money quickly out of fear. Legitimate police and AFP never cold-call to demand payment or personal details.
What should I do if I already clicked a link from an SMS claiming to be from AFP?
If you clicked a link in an SMS from 0280901766, change your passwords immediately for any accounts (email, banking, social media) using a different device. Contact your bank directly using the number on your bank card. Monitor your accounts for unauthorised activity. You can report the phishing attempt to cyber.gov.au and ask about identity theft protection. Do not ignore it, but do not panic - act quickly and contact official agencies directly.
Is 02 8090 1766 actually connected to police or AFP?
No. The number 02 8090 1766 (0280901766) is registered to Symbio Networks Pty Ltd as a local service number in NSW. Genuine police and AFP do not initiate contact via random phone calls claiming to investigate identity theft. If you have genuine identity theft concerns, contact the AFP or police directly using numbers you find yourself on their official websites, never numbers provided by callers.
What is a phishing link and why did scammers include one?
A phishing link in an SMS from 02 8090 1766 would direct you to a fake website designed to look like an official AFP, bank, or government site. If you enter your login credentials or personal details, scammers steal that information to access your accounts or commit identity fraud. The contributors who reported these messages from 0280901766 showed the sophistication of the scam - combining urgency, impersonation, and fake links.
Can I block 02 8090 1766 on my phone?
Yes. In most phones, you can block a number in your contacts or call history. Open your phone's settings or the Messages app, find the number 0280901766, and select 'Block' or 'Block Number'. You can also report it as spam when blocking. Additionally, you can add it to your Do Not Call Register preferences or contact your mobile provider (Symbio Networks) to report it for misuse.
Why do scammers use local NSW numbers like 02 8090 1766?
Callers using local numbers (02 area code) make the call appear legitimate and less suspicious than international or 1300 numbers. A NSW local number like 02 8090 1766 increases the chance someone will answer. Combined with impersonation of trusted agencies like AFP or police, it exploits trust in familiar Australian numbering patterns. Always verify the caller independently rather than trusting the number displayed.