- Scam
Community reports for 03 5954 4540 (0359544540): Callers impersonate electricity providers with poor English, claiming billing discrepancies and refusing callback verification.
Utility Bill Impersonation Scam on 03 5954 4540
Two contributors have reported scam calls from 03 5954 4540 (also written as 0359544540) involving callers posing as electricity company representatives. Both calls arrived during evening hours and featured callers with heavy Indian accents claiming there was a discrepancy with the recipient's electricity bill. The calls occurred via a Telstra local service number in Victoria.
What makes these calls particularly suspicious is the callers' refusal to accept incoming calls for verification. When contributors mentioned they would call back, the callers explicitly stated they cannot receive return calls - a major red flag that distinguishes this from legitimate utility company contact, which always provides verified callback options.
What Callers from 03 5954 4540 Say
Both contributors noted the callers were difficult to understand due to poor English proficiency and heavy accents. The callers addressed recipients by name and claimed to represent the electricity provider, mentioning a billing discrepancy as the reason for contact.
When questioned or told the recipients were not interested, one caller from 0359544540 became aggressive, yelling at the contributor who refused to engage further. The poor connection quality and static on both calls added to the overall impression of an offshore operation rather than a legitimate Australian utility provider.
Call Patterns and Timing
Both calls from 03 5954 4540 occurred during dinner time in the evening (around 5:42 PM), suggesting the scammers target households during periods when people are more likely to be home and potentially distracted. The pattern of contacting recipients at similar times suggests automated calling systems or coordinated shift-based dialling.
One contributor noted they were expecting a legitimate local call, which may explain why they answered 0359544540 initially. The use of a Victoria-based local Telstra number appears designed to increase the likelihood of recipients answering, as local numbers typically indicate calls from nearby businesses or services.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 03 5954 4540
If 03 5954 4540 calls you:
- Do not: Accept claims about billing discrepancies without independently verifying them. Do not provide personal or account information. Do not agree to any payments or actions based on the caller's claims.
- Do: Hang up immediately if the caller refuses to accept a callback to an official number. Contact your electricity provider directly using the number on your bill or their official website to verify any claimed discrepancies.
- Do: Block the number 0359544540 after the call ends. Report the call to ACMA and Scamwatch immediately, providing the exact time you received the call.
How to Report 03 5954 4540
If you received a scam call from this number, report it to Australian authorities:
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): acma.gov.au - File a complaint about the scam call and number spoofing if applicable.
- Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au - Report the specific scam tactics used and provide details about what the caller claimed.
- ReportCyber: cyber.gov.au - If financial details or personal information were requested or compromised.
- Your electricity provider: Contact them directly using the number on your bill to report the impersonation attempt and confirm your account status is legitimate.
- Reverseau: Report your experience with 03 5954 4540 here to help other Australians identify and avoid this scam number.
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 5954 4540!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Indian guy. Difficult to understand. Dinner time call.
Said he was calling about a discrepancy with my electric bill.
Clearly a scam.
Told him I was eating dinner and would call him back.
He said they cannot accept incoming calls.
This solidified it was a scam call.
Hung up.
Blocked.
Was expecting a local call so answered.
Poor connection and static.
Call came at 5:42 PM.
Male with extremely poor English (had indian accent (addressed me by name). I could only make out my name and “electricity bill”
Considering our electricity bill has no connection to my name, I immediately knew this call was NOT legitimate.
Told male I was not interested. He started yelling at me.
I hung up and blocked.
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 5954 4540!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why did the caller from 03 5954 4540 refuse to accept a callback?
Legitimate electricity providers always accept callbacks to verify their identity. The refusal to accept incoming calls on 0359544540 is a definitive scam indicator. Real utility companies want customers to verify their identity independently by calling the official number on their bill or website. Scammers refuse callbacks because they cannot receive calls at their spoofed number - it only works for outbound dialling.
How do I verify an electricity bill claim without calling 03 5954 4540?
Never call the number back. Instead, locate your most recent electricity bill and call the provider directly using the customer service number printed on that bill. Alternatively, log into your online account through your provider's official website. For Victoria, contact your retailer directly - they will have a verified number on your bill. Do not use any contact details provided by the caller from 0359544540.
What should I do if I already gave information to the caller from 03 5954 4540?
If you provided bank details, account numbers, or other sensitive information to 0359544540, contact your bank and electricity provider immediately to alert them of potential fraud. Monitor your accounts closely for suspicious activity. Consider placing a fraud alert with your bank and reporting the call to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au so authorities can track this scam operation.
Is 03 5954 4540 actually from an electricity company?
No. While 0359544540 appears as a local Telstra number in Victoria, the caller is impersonating an electricity provider. The number can be spoofed to display as a legitimate local number while actually originating from overseas. Legitimate electricity companies use verifiable customer service numbers listed on bills and their websites, not numbers that refuse incoming verification calls.
Why do these callers have poor English and Indian accents?
This pattern suggests the scam operation is based overseas, likely in India or a similar jurisdiction. The poor connection quality and static also indicate international calling infrastructure. Scammers operating from overseas often target Australian households because they assume language barriers reduce the likelihood of detection, though in this case the poor English actually helped alert contributors to the scam.
Should I report 03 5954 4540 if I just hung up without engaging?
Yes. Even if you didn't provide information, reporting 0359544540 to ACMA and Scamwatch helps authorities track the scam operation and warn other Australians. Each report builds a pattern that supports investigation and takedown efforts. Your report on Reverseau also immediately helps others who may receive calls from this number decide whether to engage or hang up.