- Scam
Community report for 0401 164 033 (0401164033): SMS impersonation scam pretending to be a family member requesting money for rent.
Family Impersonation SMS Scam Reports for 0401 164 033
One contributor has reported receiving a deceptive SMS from 0401 164 033 (also written as 0401164033) that impersonated a family member. The message claimed an urgent need for money to cover rent, a tactic designed to exploit emotional responses and family relationships.
This type of scam leverages personal information - or claims to - to establish false familiarity. The contributor's experience with 0401164033 demonstrates how scammers use urgency and emotional manipulation to bypass normal scepticism.
What the SMS from 0401 164 033 Claimed
The message received from 0401 164 033 posed as a family member and requested money specifically for rent. This targeting of housing-related expenses is deliberate - rent is a genuine, time-sensitive financial pressure many people face, making the lie more believable.
The contributor noted the SMS came from 0401164033, an Optus mobile number. Scammers using legitimate-appearing mobile numbers create a false sense of legitimacy compared to obvious spam channels.
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 0401 164 033
If 0401 164 033 sends you a message claiming to be a family member:
- Do not: Send money, reply to the message, or click any links in the SMS
- Do: Contact the family member directly using a phone number you already have saved to verify their actual situation
- Do: Block 0401164033 immediately and report the number to your mobile provider and ACMA
- Do: Delete the message without engaging further
How to Report 0401 164 033
Report this scam number and your experience through these Australian resources:
- ACMA: Report the SMS to the Australian Communications and Media Authority at acma.gov.au
- Scamwatch: Log details of the scam at scamwatch.gov.au - include the message content and time received
- Your mobile provider: Contact Optus directly to report the number 0401 164 033 and request it be flagged
- Reverseau: Add your report about 0401164033 to help warn other Australians about this scam number
Help others by sharing your experience with 0401 164 033!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
SMS pretending to be a family member asking for money for rent
Help others by sharing your experience with 0401 164 033!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
What should I do if someone texts me from 0401 164 033 claiming to be a family member?
Do not send money. Immediately contact the family member using a phone number you already have saved to verify their situation. Block 0401 164 033 and report it to ACMA at acma.gov.au and Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. The contributor who reported 0401164033 received exactly this type of message requesting rent money.
Is 0401164033 really a family member's number?
Very unlikely. The report for 0401 164 033 shows the SMS was impersonating a family member, meaning the scammer was using a spoofed or hijacked number to make the message appear legitimate. Always verify by contacting family members directly through known phone numbers rather than replying to unexpected money requests from 0401164033.
Why would a scammer target rent payments?
Rent is a time-sensitive financial obligation that creates genuine urgency and pressure. By claiming a family member needs rent money urgently, scammers exploiting 0401 164 033 aim to trigger an emotional response that overrides normal caution. The contributor who received the SMS from 0401164033 was likely targeted because housing costs are universally understood as urgent and legitimate.
What information did the scammer from 0401 164 033 try to get?
The primary goal was financial - requesting money be sent for rent. The scammer using 0401 164 033 (0401164033) relied on impersonation and emotional pressure rather than asking for banking details or passwords, though sending money would have required the victim to share payment information or bank account details.
Which provider does 0401 164 033 belong to?
The number 0401 164 033 (0401164033) is allocated to Optus Mobile Pty Limited as a mobile service. However, scammers can spoof or hijack legitimate mobile numbers, so the allocation does not confirm the sender's identity. Report 0401164033 to Optus directly along with your report to ACMA.
Where should I report 0401164033 if I receive a scam SMS?
Report the scam SMS from 0401 164 033 to multiple Australian authorities: ACMA (acma.gov.au), Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au), and your mobile provider Optus. You can also share your experience about 0401164033 on Reverseau to help protect other Australians from the same scam.