- Suspicious
- Scam
- Unknown
- Uncertain
Community reports for 03 8652 6837 (0386526837): Pre-recorded robocalls impersonating 'Australian Research Centre' claiming prize draw surveys. Silent calls also reported.
Robocall Survey Scam Reports for 03 8652 6837
Nineteen contributors have reported calls from 03 8652 6837 (also written as 0386526837), with a clear pattern of automated robocalls posing as legitimate research surveys. Multiple reports describe pre-recorded messages claiming to represent the 'Australian Research Centre', asking recipients to participate in surveys about rent and living costs, with promises of entry into prize draws offering substantial cash rewards.
The most common tactic involves robocalls with Australian-accented recorded messages. Several contributors noted they received calls from 0386526837 specifically mentioning a $1,000 prize draw as incentive to participate in the survey. One contributor who engaged with the automated questions reported that the caller requested their name before hanging up, raising concerns about data harvesting despite the survey premise.
What Callers from 03 8652 6837 Say
Contributors describe the calls as pre-recorded messages with an Australian accent. The recorded voice typically introduces itself as being from the 'Australian Research Centre' and invites the recipient to participate in a survey regarding rental costs and living expenses. The pitch includes mention of eligibility for a cash prize draw, presented as an incentive to complete the survey.
One detailed report about 03 8652 6837 noted that after automated survey questions were asked, the system requested the caller's name before disconnecting. A contributor reported giving only a first name but later found the 'Australian Research Centre' did not respond when contacted directly to verify the legitimacy of the survey, suggesting the organisation may not exist or is not conducting legitimate research via 0386526837.
Some callers from 03 8652 6837 also exhibit silent call behaviour, with several contributors reporting no one spoke during the call or the line disconnected immediately after answering. One contributor described the call cutting short before they could even greet the caller, noting it had a 'dodgy polling' feel.
Report Patterns and Timing
The robocall pattern for 03 8652 6837 has persisted over several months, with reports dating back to mid-2025 and continuing into March 2026. The most recent call was received today according to one contributor. Multiple reports arrived within a short timeframe (three in early March and late February), suggesting either increased calling activity or a surge in reports about existing calls.
All but two reports involved answered calls, indicating the robocall successfully connected to recipients. Two contributors also reported silent calls or lines that disconnected immediately, which may indicate callback scam verification attempts. One contributor who called 0386526837 back found the number was no longer in service, a common tactic used by scammers to avoid callback verification.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 03 8652 6837
If 03 8652 6837 calls you:
- Do not: Engage with the automated survey, provide your name or personal details, or return the call if the number appears disconnected
- Do: Hang up immediately when you recognise a robocall, block the number on your phone, and let subsequent calls go to voicemail
- Do not: Be persuaded by promises of cash prizes or prize draws - legitimate research organisations do not conduct cold-calling surveys offering substantial money
- Do: If you already provided your name or phone number, monitor your accounts for unexpected activity and be alert to follow-up contact
- Do not: Call the number back - if it's disconnected when you try, that confirms the scam nature
How to Report 03 8652 6837
If you receive unwanted robocalls from 03 8652 6837 or 0386526837, you can report this activity to Australian authorities:
- Report to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) with details of the call, what was said, and when it occurred
- Lodge a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au - robocalls breaching the Do Not Call Register can result in enforcement action
- Register your number on the Do Not Call Register (donotcall.gov.au) if you haven't already, though this doesn't always stop scammers
- Report the call to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) if you believe personal information was compromised
- Share your experience on Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number and protect themselves from the same scam
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 8652 6837!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Got a robot voice yesterday talking about living costs, dropped it pretty quick
Answered by mistake, normally wouldn't answer numbers I do not know. Pre-recordered robo call with Australian accent asking to participate in a survey about Australian Rent and Living Costs and that I would be selected to go into a draw to win lots of cash. I Hung Up. They said they were from the Australian Research Centre.
Pre-recorded robo call asking to participate in survey about rent and living costs, said they were from Australian Research Centre
Pre-recorded robo call asking to participate in survey about rent and living costs, said they were from Australian Research Centre
SCAMMER & $hit talker.
No money for you here bud.
Presented itself as a place doing surveys for a $1000 draw. Definitely a scam.
call cut short before I could say hello, smells like dodgy polling
No one said a word, silent treatment
Call from Victoria, not sure what they wanted
Received the call with automated questions and asked for my name at the end before hanging up. I did engage but I don’t really own anything so I guess my answers didn’t trigger follow up questions about bank details ?… I gave a first name only, and afterwards I looked up the company they’re claiming to be and emailed them, asking if they’re conducting research and how they got my number. No reply yet. Hoping there’s not much they can do with a single name, phone number, and various ‘no’ answers to owning properties and investment properties.
Silent call, dodgy vibe
missed call, no message left, showed as potential fraud
Answered this call and a recording was playing saying it was a cost of living survey. I just hung up as I suspect it was a scam.
Missed call then similar number called with automated survey
Scammer!!!! 03 8652 6837 didn't leave a message, when I rang the number the message was the number wasn’t in service.
No message left, tried calling back and got number not in service
tried returning call, told number not in service. suggests fraudulent
Pain in the ########### scammer.
Scam.
Scam want you to do a quick survey & go in the draw for $1K.
Scammers, didn't even leave a proper voicemail
Bloody scammers.
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 8652 6837!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Is 03 8652 6837 a legitimate research organisation?
No. Multiple contributors have reported that 03 8652 6837 (0386526837) claims to represent the 'Australian Research Centre', but when recipients attempted to verify this by contacting the purported organisation directly, they received no response. Additionally, one contributor who called 0386526837 back found the number was no longer in service, a clear indicator of a scam operation. Legitimate research organisations do not conduct cold-calling robocall surveys offering cash prize draws.
Why does 03 8652 6837 ask for my name if it's just a survey?
One contributor reported that after answering automated questions from 03 8652 6837, the system requested their name before disconnecting. This appears to be data harvesting disguised as a survey requirement. Scammers use these requests to build lists of verified phone numbers and names for follow-up scams or to sell to other fraudsters. The safest approach is to hang up immediately when 0386526837 calls and not provide any personal information.
What should I do if I already gave my name to 03 8652 6837?
If you provided your first name or other details to 03 8652 6837 (0386526837), monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. One contributor who gave only a first name expressed concern about potential misuse, though noted they provided mostly 'no' answers to property ownership questions. If you gave sensitive details like address, date of birth, or bank information, consider placing a fraud alert with your bank and monitoring your credit report. Report the call to Scamwatch and ACMA.
Why do some calls from 03 8652 6837 have no one speaking?
Several contributors reported silent calls or lines that disconnected immediately from 03 8652 6837 (0386526837). These silent calls are often used by scam operations to verify that a phone number is active and answered by a real person, marking it as a 'live' number for future scam attempts. Silent calls may also indicate callback scam verification - the scammer checks if you'll call back. Do not return calls to 0386526837, especially if the number appears disconnected when you try.
Is the $1,000 prize draw offer from 03 8652 6837 real?
No. The promise of a $1,000 or similar cash prize draw is a common scam tactic used by 03 8652 6837 (0386526837) to convince people to engage with the robocall survey. One contributor identified this as a 'too good to be true' offer, and scammers rely on this temptation to persuade recipients to provide personal information. Legitimate prize draws and research surveys do not contact people via unsolicited robocalls; they work through registered organisations with verifiable contact details.
What provider operates 03 8652 6837 and can I contact them?
The number 03 8652 6837 (0386526837) is allocated to a VIC-based local service provider. However, scammers often spoof legitimate numbers or use VoIP services that don't provide meaningful accountability. Attempting to contact the provider about this number is unlikely to help since the scammer may not have legitimate contact information associated with 0386526837. Instead, report the number directly to ACMA (acma.gov.au) and Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au).