- Scam
- Suspicious
- Uncertain
- Legit
- Spam
02 9730 9996 (0297309996): 9 reports including PayPal impersonation, personal data requests, and mysterious calls appearing on third-party phone accounts linked to Optus.
Personal Information Request Scam Reports for 02 9730 9996
Nine contributors have reported suspicious activity involving 02 9730 9996 (also written as 0297309996), with three reports specifically documenting callers requesting personal information. The most concerning pattern involves a voicemail claiming to be PayPal, threatening an unauthorised withdrawal of over $200. When the contributor called back, a woman answered claiming to be from PayPal but immediately hung up after the recipient challenged the legitimacy of the call.
Reports about 0297309996 also indicate callers with withheld caller ID attempting to extract personal property details, and one contributor received a call from someone purporting to be calling from India requesting excessive personal information. The number appears to be associated with Optus Networks as a local service in NSW, though contributors have reported that calls sometimes disconnect when they attempt to call back, a common tactic used by scammers to avoid detection.
What Callers from 02 9730 9996 Are Requesting
Contributors describe callers from 02 9730 9996 employing high-pressure tactics designed to extract sensitive information. One report details a voicemail falsely claiming to represent PayPal, threatening to withdraw over $200 from the account. Another contributor received a call from a person claiming to call from India, seeking extensive personal information without legitimate reason.
A contributor with withheld ID caller experience reported the caller was specifically prying into details about their personal property. The pattern of these requests suggests the callers may be attempting to gather information for identity fraud or financial exploitation. Several contributors who called the number back found it disconnected, indicating the scammers do not maintain a stable line for follow-up contact.
Unusual Call Patterns and Account Anomalies
Beyond direct calls, 02 9730 9996 has appeared in several unusual circumstances on Optus phone accounts. One contributor discovered multiple calls from 0297309996 appearing on an ex-partner's phone account, with all calls lasting approximately one minute each and occurring minutes or less apart, suggesting automated or sequential calling activity. Another contributor found 02 9730 9996 listed on their boyfriend's phone records despite the number disconnecting when called back.
A particularly serious report involved 02 9730 9996 appearing on a phone account after the device was stolen. The victim, a pensioner, reported the call to police and noted significant financial hardship resulting from the theft and subsequent fraudulent activity. One contributor noted that 02 9730 9996 appeared on both their and their spouse's phone bills in the same month, with an accompanying voicemail, further suggesting systematic activity across multiple accounts.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 9730 9996
If 02 9730 9996 calls you:
- Do not: Provide any personal information, financial details, passwords, or property descriptions to the caller
- Do not: Return a call immediately to this number, as it may disconnect or route to a different destination
- Do not: Follow instructions to verify account details by calling a number provided by the caller
- Do: Let the call go to voicemail and listen for context clues
- Do: Independently verify any claims by contacting the organisation directly using an official phone number from their website
- Do: If impersonation is claimed (PayPal, banks, etc.), contact that organisation's fraud line immediately
- Do: Block the number 02 9730 9996 on your phone to prevent future calls
What to Do If You Receive a Voicemail from 02 9730 9996
Several contributors received voicemails from 0297309996, including one falsely claiming to be from PayPal. If you receive a voicemail from 02 9730 9996:
- Do not: Call the number back or follow any instructions provided in the message
- Do not: Provide information requested in the voicemail
- Do: Delete the voicemail after documenting the date and time
- Do: Contact the organisation mentioned (PayPal, your bank, etc.) directly using their official contact details
- Do: Report the voicemail as spam or suspicious via your phone settings
- Do: Forward details of the voicemail to the legitimate organisation's fraud team
How to Report 02 9730 9996
If you believe you have been targeted by scammers using 02 9730 9996, report it through multiple channels:
- Scamwatch: Report to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission via scamwatch.gov.au
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): File a complaint about the unwanted calls at acma.gov.au
- Your telco: Contact Optus or your service provider directly to report the number and request they investigate the account
- Police: If you have lost money or personal information has been compromised, file a report with local police
- PayPal or relevant organisation: If the call impersonated a specific service, report it directly to their fraud team
- Reverseau: Contribute your report here to help other Australians identify and avoid this number
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 9730 9996!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Keeps calling, when I call back it's disconnected, reported to Optus fraud
Withheld ID caller prying into my personal property, Optus said it's linked to this number
It’s showing up on my ex’s usage records (my phone account). All phone calls (no texts), and all lasting around one minute. The calls are made minutes or less apart. Really strange.
Shows up on my boyfriend's phone records with calls but when I call back it's disconnected
My phone was stolen and one if the calls made to was 02 97309996. It has been reported to police. I am a pensioner and can ill afford the expense it has cost me. Shame on you.
It would seem to be Optus voicemail. The list of calls to this number are listed under the heading " voicemail".
I've made a call this morning to voicemail # so that I can cross check on next month's phone account.
Given that my hospital information has recently been hacked, I'm keeping some perspective here. More worried about the hack rather than phone calls that are likely voicemail and not charged money for.
Voicemail claiming to be PayPal saying they'd withdraw over $200, when I called back a woman answered saying it was PayPal but hung up when I said it wasn't real
Called from India, requested too much personal information
Appeared on both my and my wife's phone bills same month, left voicemail
May have triggered too many message remarks on service provider system, eight brief messages on bill, don't use voicemail, wondering if these are just going through exchange
number appearing on phone and bills, started this month, no charges
Number appeared on bill Feb 7 to Mar 6, frequent calls 10 AM to 11 PM, no idea who
Number's appeared on both my phone and my partner's, we don't know who it is
This number appears on my 92-year-old dad's bill 15-20 times a month for only 3-4 seconds each time, very unusual
Blocked the number but it appears on monthly bill daily through Southern Phone affiliated with Optus
Wife has this number on bill, two calls, first lasted 2 seconds second lasted 59 seconds, number format looked odd
Voicemail appeared to be from Optus
Help others by sharing your experience with (02) 9730 9996!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Is 02 9730 9996 a legitimate Optus number?
The number 0297309996 is associated with Optus Networks as a local service in NSW, but multiple contributors have reported it being used for scam activity. One contributor who investigated further found that Optus indicated the number was linked to suspicious activity. While it may be a legitimate Optus number, it has been compromised or spoofed for fraudulent purposes, so do not assume legitimacy based on the Optus association.
What should I do if I gave personal information to a caller from 02 9730 9996?
If you provided personal information to someone claiming to call from 02 9730 9996, contact your bank and relevant financial institutions immediately to report potential fraud. Monitor your accounts closely for unauthorised transactions. You may also want to check your credit file through Equifax or Experian. If property or identity details were shared, consider registering with the IDCARE identity support service. Report the incident to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au and your local police.
Why does 02 9730 9996 disconnect when I call it back?
Multiple contributors reported that calling back 0297309996 resulted in a disconnected number. This is a common scam tactic where the perpetrators use temporary numbers, call forwarding services, or pre-recorded systems that don't accept incoming calls. This behaviour is a strong indicator of fraudulent activity. Do not attempt to call back; instead, block the number and report it to your service provider and ACMA.
I see 02 9730 9996 on my phone bill but I didn't make that call. What does it mean?
If 0297309996 appears on your phone bill for a call you did not make, it suggests either your account has been compromised, the number was spoofed (someone used technology to make it appear as if they called from this number), or there is unauthorised access to your phone service. Contact your telco (Optus or your provider) immediately to review the call and secure your account. Ask them to investigate whether the call was legitimate and whether your account shows other suspicious activity.
Should I be concerned about the PayPal voicemail from 02 9730 9996?
Yes, absolutely. A contributor received a voicemail from 0297309996 claiming to be PayPal, threatening to withdraw over $200, and hanging up when challenged. This is a confirmed impersonation scam. PayPal will never call you threatening unauthorised withdrawals. If you received a similar voicemail from 02 9730 9996, do not call the number back. Instead, log into your PayPal account directly via their official website to check for any unusual activity, then report the voicemail to PayPal's fraud team and Scamwatch.
What should I do if 02 9730 9996 appears on someone else's phone account linked to mine?
One contributor reported 0297309996 appearing on an ex-partner's phone account when their phone was compromised. If you see calls from 02 9730 9996 on another person's account, or if someone informs you that calls to this number appear on their account linked to yours, contact your service provider immediately. This may indicate account compromise or unauthorised access. Ask your provider to review account security settings, change your PIN/password, and investigate how calls to 0297309996 were made. Report the matter to police if you suspect account fraud.