02 8360 6172 - 0283606172: Phishing and Personal Information Scam

• Scam

Community report for 02 8360 6172 (0283606172): Caller had victim's email, attempted phishing with one-time passcode, hung up when police mentioned.

Phishing and Personal Information Scam on 02 8360 6172

A contributor has reported a suspicious call from 02 8360 6172 (also written as 0283606172) where the caller demonstrated prior knowledge of the recipient's email address. This is a significant red flag, as it suggests the attacker either obtained personal data from a breach or purchased contact lists from underground sources.

The caller's strategy focused on obtaining sensitive information through a phishing technique involving a one-time passcode. This tactic is commonly used by account takeover scammers who aim to reset passwords or gain unauthorised access to email, banking, or social media accounts.

What the Caller from 02 8360 6172 Attempted

According to the report about 0283606172, the caller already possessed the victim's email address when contact was made. Rather than claiming to be from a specific organisation, the caller attempted to send a one-time passcode, which is a classic phishing tactic designed to trick victims into revealing authentication codes or confirming account access.

The contributor remained cautious and mentioned contacting police, at which point the caller from 02 8360 6172 immediately terminated the call. This abrupt hang-up behaviour is typical of scammers who recognise their attempted fraud has been detected and seek to avoid further exposure.

Why This Attack Pattern Is Serious

One-time passcodes are security features designed to protect accounts from unauthorised access. When a scammer sends a fake passcode request, they are attempting to either:

• Trick the victim into providing the actual code if it arrives via legitimate channels
• Confirm the victim's email or phone number is active and monitored
• Gain access to accounts through social engineering once trust is partially established

The fact that the 02 8360 6172 caller knew the victim's email beforehand indicates this was a targeted attack, not random cold calling.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 8360 6172

If 0283606172 calls you:

• Do not: Provide any personal information, confirm email addresses or phone numbers, or act on requests for passcodes
• Do not: Click links sent via text or email following the call
• Do not: Return the call if you miss it
• Do: Hang up immediately if the caller requests a one-time passcode or authentication code
• Do: Contact your email provider, bank, or relevant account holder directly using official numbers to verify if any suspicious activity occurred
• Do: Block the number 02 8360 6172 on your phone to prevent further contact

What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 02 8360 6172

If you receive an SMS from 0283606172 with a passcode, link, or request for account information:

• Do not: Click any links in the message
• Do not: Reply or acknowledge the message
• Do not: Share the passcode with anyone
• Do: Delete the message immediately
• Do: Report the SMS as spam by forwarding it to 0429 999 888
• Do: Check your email and online accounts for any unauthorised login attempts

How to Report 02 8360 6172

If you have received calls or messages from 02 8360 6172 (0283606172), you can report this activity to Australian authorities:

• Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au for detailed information about phishing and account takeover scams
• Report to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au for telecommunications fraud
• If you believe your email or accounts have been compromised, report to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au
• Contribute your experience to Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number

Frequently Asked Questions