- Scam
- Uncertain
- Suspicious
- Spam
03 8804 5785 (0388045785): 20 community reports of automated survey calls offering fake $1,000 prizes. Callers disconnect when called back.
Robocall Survey Scam Reports for 03 8804 5785
Twenty contributors have reported suspicious activity from 03 8804 5785 (also written as 0388045785), a Melbourne-based number allocated to Optus Networks. The primary pattern involves automated robocalls conducting fake cost-of-living surveys with suspicious prize offers. Multiple contributors describe AI-generated voices asking annoying questions and claiming winners receive $1,000 prizes - a clear too-good-to-be-true tactic used to encourage engagement and potential financial harm.
What distinguishes 0388045785 from typical telemarketing is the callback trap. Contributors who attempted to verify the call or lodge complaints found the number either disconnected or generated automated service difficulty messages, preventing legitimate contact and confirming scam characteristics.
What Callers from 03 8804 5785 Say
The robocall from 03 8804 5785 uses an automated AI voice to conduct what appears to be a cost-of-living survey. Contributors report the caller asks whether they are over or under 58 years old, then mentions a $1,000 prize opportunity. One contributor described it as "annoying questions about winning a fake $1000 prize," while another noted the caller "promised chance to win a grand" as part of the survey pitch.
The robotic quality of the voice is distinctive - multiple reports from 0388045785 specifically mention the automated nature of the call, with one contributor noting "poor connection quality" on the voicemail message. This robocall strategy is designed to reach high call volumes with minimal human labour, making it a cost-effective scam delivery mechanism.
Call Patterns and Timing
Reports of 03 8804 5785 span from May 2024 through February 2026, indicating sustained scam activity over an extended period. Call timing varies - some contributors received calls during daytime hours (12:07 PM, 6:02 PM), while others were contacted early morning (2:59 AM, 3:53 AM, 4:37 AM), suggesting the robocall system operates 24/7 without regard for reasonable calling hours.
A significant proportion of calls from 0388045785 go unanswered and leave no voicemail (15 missed calls, often with no message), but when contributors do answer, they encounter the survey robocall with prize offer. The pattern suggests the number cycles through contact lists repeatedly, as one contributor noted receiving multiple calls daily.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 03 8804 5785
If 03 8804 5785 calls you:
- Do not: Answer unknown calls from this number, engage with the survey questions, or press any digits to confirm eligibility
- Do not: Attempt to "call back" to complain or verify - the number uses disconnection tactics to prevent callbacks
- Do: Let the call go to voicemail or decline it immediately
- Do: Block 0388045785 in your phone settings to prevent future calls
- Do: Never provide personal information (age, location, financial details) in response to robocall survey questions
- Do: Hang up immediately if you do answer and hear an automated voice
Do not assume the prize offer is legitimate. The $1,000 incentive is designed to lower your guard and encourage you to answer questions or follow instructions that could lead to financial loss or identity theft.
How to Report 03 8804 5785
Report this robocall number through multiple Australian government and regulatory channels:
- Scamwatch: Lodge a detailed report at scamwatch.gov.au describing the survey scam and prize offer
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): File a complaint at acma.gov.au about the robocall and callback disconnection tactics
- Do Not Call Register: Register your number at donotcall.gov.au to opt out of future unsolicited marketing calls (though scams often ignore this)
- ReportCyber: If the robocall prompted you to click links or share data, report to cyber.gov.au
- Reverseau: Add your experience to the community report for 03 8804 5785 to help other Australians identify this number
When reporting 0388045785, include the date, time, and exact wording of the survey questions and prize offer. Note whether the caller left voicemail or the line quality if you answered.
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 8804 5785!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Barely rang before dropping off, didn't leave message
Ignored the call, no message left
Unknown caller didn't leave a message, blocked and deleted
Robotic voice doing a cost of living survey, asked if I was over or under 58, mentioned prize of a grand
call from Melbourne, no message left
Voicemail but no message left
Got a call, convinced it's a scam
AI automated call asking annoying questions about winning a fake $1000 prize
Survey call about cost of living, promised chance to win a grand, total rubbish
Do not engage, just don't answer and block the number.
called about cost of living survey, when I called back got disconnected message
Called back and first got a message about service difficulties, second time said number disconnected, definite scam
Flagged number as suspicious, no voicemail left, suspect telemarketing
Didn't answer, no voicemail left
Automated voice message claiming to do a survey, poor connection quality
Rang three times in a row, no message
Missed call no voicemail, tried calling back got two different messages saying number not in service then disconnected
Didn't answer, no voicemail left
Didn't answer, no voicemail left, could be spam
didn't answer, no voicemail left
Help others by sharing your experience with (03) 8804 5785!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Is 03 8804 5785 a legitimate cost-of-living survey?
No. While the automated caller from 03 8804 5785 claims to conduct a cost-of-living survey, multiple contributors confirm this is a scam. Legitimate government surveys do not offer cash prizes to random callers, and the $1,000 prize promise is a classic too-good-to-be-true tactic. Additionally, when contributors from Melbourne tried to call back 0388045785 to verify the survey's legitimacy, the number either disconnected or generated automated messages about service difficulties - behaviour inconsistent with genuine research organisations.
What happens if I answer the call from 0388045785?
If you answer 03 8804 5785, you will hear an AI-generated automated voice asking survey questions, typically starting with whether you are over or under 58 years old. The robocall will then mention a $1,000 prize opportunity. Contributors who engaged report the questions are designed to keep you on the line, making it seem like legitimate research. Do not answer follow-up questions or provide any personal information. Hang up immediately upon hearing the automated voice from 0388045785.
Why is 0388045785 using a Melbourne Optus number?
The robocall using 03 8804 5785 is allocated to Optus Networks in Victoria, but this does not mean Optus is responsible for the scam. Scammers often spoof or misuse legitimate business phone numbers to appear credible. The number itself may have been compromised, reassigned after fraudulent activity, or the scammers may simply be using a Victorian area code to target local Australians. This is why you should never trust caller ID alone - always verify through official channels if unsure.
Should I try to call back 03 8804 5785 to complain?
No. Do not attempt to call back 0388045785. Multiple contributors who tried to call back this number encountered either automated messages claiming service difficulties or heard that the number was disconnected. This is an intentional scam tactic designed to prevent victims from reporting the number or discovering it is fraudulent. Attempting to callback may also trigger additional scam calls to your number or result in premium rate charges. Instead, report the number directly to Scamwatch or ACMA.
What is the robocall and too-good-to-be-true tactic used by 03 8804 5785?
03 8804 5785 combines two scam tactics: robocall automation and prize incentives. The automated AI voice reaches thousands of people cheaply and quickly without human interaction. The fake $1,000 prize offer is the psychological hook - it makes the survey seem legitimate and worth your time, lowering your defences against sharing personal information or following instructions. Contributors describe the prize offer as "total rubbish" precisely because no genuine research organisation offers cash prizes this way. The combination of robocall technology with the prize incentive is designed to maximise engagement and data harvesting.
How many times has 0388045785 been reported, and over what period?
03 8804 5785 has received 20 community reports spanning from May 2024 to February 2026, indicating over 18 months of sustained scam activity. This extended reporting history shows the scam operation remains active and continues targeting Australians. The number operates across all hours of the day and night, with some contributors receiving calls very early in the morning (around 3-4 AM). The fact that 0388045785 continues operating despite multiple reports suggests the scammers are either changing tactics or reusing the number repeatedly to maximize contact attempts before it becomes widely blocked.