- Suspicious
- Scam
Community reports for 02 8898 0147 (0288980147) describe callers claiming urgent matters while requesting personal information without identifying themselves.
Deceptive Information Requests from 02 8898 0147
Three contributors have reported calls from 02 8898 0147 (also written as 0288980147), with one categorising the contact as a scam involving false claims and deliberate evasion. The pattern centres on callers creating urgency around unspecified matters while refusing to identify themselves or their organisation, then attempting to extract personal details through questioning.
One contributor received a call from someone claiming the name "Rebecca", who later left voicemail messages stating she had vital information requiring urgent response. When pressed, this caller refused to clarify who she was calling from or what information she possessed, instead pivoting to ask detailed personal questions. The contributor noted the caller was "obviously experienced" despite being "an incompetent liar", suggesting a deliberate social engineering approach.
What Callers from 02 8898 0147 Say and Do
Reports indicate callers from 02 8898 0147 use specific tactics to lower your guard. One approach involves claiming knowledge of previous contact that never occurred, with callers leaving messages suggesting they've already been in touch. When recipients ask who is calling or what the purpose is, callers deflect by saying they represent "a company dealing with private matters" without further elaboration.
The caller identified as "Rebecca" from calls to 02 8898 0147 employed urgency framing, describing matters as vital and requiring immediate response. Despite this artificial pressure, when asked direct identification questions, the same caller refused to name her company or explain what information she claimed to have. This combination of urgency language combined with refusal to identify is a recognised social engineering pattern designed to bypass normal verification instincts.
A separate report about 0288980147 involved a call about employment verification, where the caller asked about whether a specific individual was employed at the recipient's business. This may indicate data sourcing for contact list verification or employment fraud research.
Report Patterns and Timing
All three reports about 02 8898 0147 came through answered calls rather than voicemail, suggesting the caller relies on real-time conversation to avoid leaving identifying information on recorded messages. One contributor explicitly noted being asked many detailed questions designed to elicit personal information, indicating the caller had a deliberate questioning strategy.
The reports span from January 2025 through March 2025, suggesting ongoing activity. One contributor who called back the number was given only a vague non-disclosure about "private matters", indicating the caller may have anticipated callback verification attempts and prepared a deflection response.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 8898 0147
If 02 8898 0147 calls you:
- Do not: Answer detailed personal questions, confirm employment information, provide dates of birth, financial details, or agree to any action based on claimed urgency
- Do: Ask the caller to identify their full name, organisation, department, phone number, and the specific purpose of the call before answering any questions
- Do: If they refuse to identify themselves, end the call immediately
- Do: Hang up and independently verify any claim by calling the organisation's official number from your records or their official website
- Do: Block the number if it calls repeatedly after you've asked them not to contact you
How to Report 02 8898 0147
If you've received unwanted or suspicious calls from 02 8898 0147, report your experience to Australian authorities:
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Report deceptive practices and unwanted calls at acma.gov.au
- ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission): If the call involved attempted fraud or consumer deception, report at scamwatch.gov.au
- Do Not Call Register: If you've received repeated unwanted calls, register your number at donotcall.gov.au
- Reverseau: Report your experience with 02 8898 0147 to help other Australians identify this caller's pattern
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8898 0147!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Contacted by "Rebecca" asking about a business contact who had listed my business as their employer. "Rebecca" said she was calling from the St George area, no further detail given. I informed her he was not my employee, she said she would fix that all up on her end and ended the call.
This number leaves messages purporting to have vital information requiring urgent response. They lie about previous contacts with message. They refuse to identify who they are from or what information they have, but ask a lot of detailed questions seeking to elicit personal information. "Rebecca" is an incompetent liar, but obviously experienced. Report to ACCC and ACMA.
when i called back was told it's a company dealing with private matters, didn't give any info
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 8898 0147!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Who is calling from 02 8898 0147?
Contributors who have received calls from 02 8898 0147 (0288980147) report that callers refuse to identify their organisation. When asked, they provide only vague statements like "a company dealing with private matters" without naming their employer or department. One caller used the name "Rebecca" but would not explain who she represented.
What do callers from 0288980147 want?
Reports indicate callers from 0288980147 use false urgency claims (stating they have vital information requiring immediate response) as a pretext to ask detailed personal questions. One contributor was asked about employment information, while another noted the caller asked "a lot of detailed questions seeking to elicit personal information." The caller refuses to explain what information they actually have or why they're calling.
Is 02 8898 0147 a scam?
One of three contributors categorised calls from 02 8898 0147 as a scam, noting the caller used false claims about previous contact and deliberately refused to identify herself while requesting personal details. The pattern of creating artificial urgency, refusing identification, and asking probing questions matches social engineering tactics. However, contact 02 8898 0147 yourself to verify any claims independently rather than relying on caller-provided information.
What should I do if 02 8898 0147 calls me?
End the call if the person will not clearly identify their organisation, department, and purpose. Do not answer questions about employment, personal details, or finances. If they claim urgency, treat this as a red flag. Later, verify any claims by independently calling the organisation using a phone number from your own records or their official website-never use a number provided by the caller.
Why does 0288980147 refuse to identify itself?
Callers who refuse identification are typically attempting social engineering. By creating artificial urgency and avoiding accountability, they aim to bypass your normal caution and extract information or agreement before you can verify them. Contributors have noted the caller was "obviously experienced", suggesting this is a deliberate strategy rather than poor customer service.
Where can I report calls from 02 8898 0147?
Report your experience to ACMA at acma.gov.au for deceptive calling practices, and to ACCC at scamwatch.gov.au if fraud or consumer deception was involved. You can also register your number on the Do Not Call Register at donotcall.gov.au to opt out of telemarketing calls. Share your report on Reverseau to help other Australians identify this caller's behaviour pattern.