02 9199 7881 - 0291997881: Crypto Impersonation and Phishing Scam

• Scam
• Suspicious

Community reports for 02 9199 7881 (0291997881): Callers impersonate cyber crime units and Binance, requesting crypto account details and personal info via call and SMS.

Crypto Impersonation Reports for 02 9199 7881

Three contributors have reported scam activity from 02 9199 7881 (also written as 0291997881) involving impersonation of law enforcement and cryptocurrency exchange platforms. The reports describe callers claiming to be from a cyber crime unit and messages falsely attributed to Binance, all attempting to extract sensitive account information or redirect victims to fraudulent verification processes.

This Optus-allocated NSW number has been used in coordinated attempts across both voice calls and SMS to target cryptocurrency account holders. The pattern suggests sophisticated social engineering designed to exploit victims' trust in established institutions like law enforcement and major crypto platforms.

What Callers and Messages from 02 9199 7881 Claim

One contributor received a call from 02 9199 7881 where the caller claimed to represent a cyber crime unit and specifically asked questions about crypto accounts. The caller's authority impersonation was designed to pressure the recipient into disclosing sensitive financial information.

SMS messages attributed to 02 9199 7881 impersonated Binance, the major cryptocurrency exchange platform. The message included a verification code and explicitly warned the recipient not to share the code with anyone - a classic phishing tactic that creates urgency while mimicking legitimate platform communications.

A third report describes an SMS claiming a withdrawal request was pending and requesting the recipient call a hidden number to confirm the transaction. This callback request technique, combined with the fake withdrawal alert, attempts to manipulate victims into contacting scammers directly on attacker-controlled lines.

Report Patterns and Tactics

The reports show a multi-channel attack pattern across both voice and SMS. Two of the three reports involved impersonation tactics, while phishing links and callback requests appeared in separate incidents. The SMS reports mention verification codes and withdrawal alerts - language directly mimicking legitimate Binance communications to increase credibility.

One contributor noted they had experienced similar callback scams from different numbers weeks earlier, suggesting they may be on a targeted list. The coordination between impersonation (cyber crime unit, Binance) and technical social engineering (fake verification codes, hidden caller IDs) indicates organised scam activity rather than random spam.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 9199 7881

If 02 9199 7881 calls claiming to be from law enforcement or any authority:

• Do not: Provide account details, crypto wallet information, banking details, or personal identification numbers over the phone
• Do not: Engage with the caller's claims or answer probing questions about your finances or accounts
• Do: Hang up immediately and contact the purported organisation directly using an official phone number from their website
• Do: Block 02 9199 7881 in your phone settings to prevent future calls
• Do: Remember that legitimate law enforcement and banks never request sensitive information unsolicited by phone

What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 02 9199 7881

If you receive SMS messages from 02 9199 7881 claiming to be from Binance, your bank, or any financial service:

• Do not: Click any links in the message, even if they appear to direct you to a legitimate website
• Do not: Reply to the message or provide any information requested
• Do not: Call any phone number provided in the SMS
• Do: Delete the message immediately
• Do: Report the SMS to your provider by forwarding it to 0429 999 888
• Do: Contact the legitimate organisation (Binance, your bank) directly using contact details from their official website to verify if any action is required

How to Report 02 9199 7881

If you've received scam calls or SMS from 02 9199 7881, report the activity to Australian authorities:

• Report to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au - they investigate illegal telemarketing and scam calls
• Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au - the Australian Consumer Law regulator that tracks active scams
• If cryptocurrency funds were lost, report to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au
• Contact your telecommunications provider (Optus in this case) to report the scam number
• If you received a phishing SMS, also report to your cryptocurrency exchange or bank directly
• Contribute your experience to Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number

Frequently Asked Questions