- Scam
Community reports for 0403 796 940 (0403796940): Scammers impersonating family members claiming lost phones. Avoid this number.
Family Impersonation Scam Reports for 0403 796 940
Two contributors have reported calls from 0403 796 940 (also written as 0403796940) involving family impersonation scams. Both reports describe scammers pretending to be the recipient's child or family member, claiming they've lost their phone or are in an emergency situation. This is a common social engineering tactic designed to trigger an emotional response and bypass your normal caution.
The calls come from what appears to be a mobile number allocated to Optus Mobile. Contributors who received calls from 0403 796 940 identified the callers as fraudsters attempting phishing attacks by leveraging family relationships to extract money or personal information.
What Callers from 0403 796 940 Claim
According to community reports, callers from 0403 796 940 impersonate family members in distress. One contributor reported the scammer claimed to be their child who had lost their phone. The caller's goal in these scenarios is typically to convince you to send money urgently or to provide banking details under the guise of helping a family member in need.
The impersonation tactic is particularly effective because it creates emotional pressure. Contributors receiving calls from 0403 796 940 noted the scammer's approach relies on you not verifying the caller's identity before taking action. Once money is sent or information shared, it cannot be recovered.
Report Patterns and Timing
Both reports about 0403 796 940 came from answered calls, suggesting the scammers are actively making contact rather than leaving voicemails. Contributors who answered calls from 0403 796 940 identified themselves as targets of direct voice-based social engineering. The reports came from June 2026, indicating this number has been actively used for scam purposes recently.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 0403 796 940
If 0403 796 940 calls you:
- Do not: Send money, share banking details, or assume the caller is who they claim to be
- Do: Hang up immediately and independently verify the caller's identity by contacting your family member directly using a known phone number
- Do: Block 0403 796 940 after reporting it
- Do: Ask security questions only YOU and your family would know if someone claims to be a relative in distress
Family impersonation scams succeed because they create urgency and emotional distress. The best defence is to verify independently before taking any action, even if the call seems genuine.
How to Report 0403 796 940
If you've received a scam call from 0403 796 940, report it to the following Australian authorities:
- Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au - the official Australian government consumer protection resource
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): acma.gov.au - responsible for telecommunications complaints
- ReportCyber: cyber.gov.au - for online fraud and phishing-related incidents
- Reverseau: Help protect other Australians by contributing your experience with 0403 796 940 to our community reports
Each report strengthens the community's ability to identify and warn others about this number.
Help others by sharing your experience with 0403 796 940!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Pretending to be your kid who lost his/her stupid phone so avoid like the plague.
Scammer and phishing!
Text claiming to be my dad needing me to message a new number, obvious fraud
Fraudsters pretending to be family
Help others by sharing your experience with 0403 796 940!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would a scammer call claiming to be my child?
Family impersonation scammers use emotional pressure to bypass your normal caution. By claiming your child has lost their phone or is in an emergency, they create urgency to send money without verification. Reports about 0403 796 940 show this tactic is specifically designed to make you act before thinking critically about whether the caller is genuine.
How can I verify if a call from 0403 796 940 is actually my family member?
Never take the caller's word for it. If someone calls from 0403 796 940 claiming to be your child or relative, hang up and call them back on their known number directly. Ask questions only they would know the answer to. Legitimate family members understand you need to verify their identity, especially if they're asking for money.
What should I do if I already sent money to someone who called from 0403 796 940?
Contact your bank immediately to report the fraud and attempt to recover the funds. Report the scam to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and the ACMA. Also report it to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) and block 0403 796 940. The sooner you report it, the better your chances of recovery and preventing others from falling victim to the same number.
Is 0403 796 940 a real Optus number?
0403 796 940 is allocated as a mobile number to Optus Mobile, but scammers regularly use spoofed or compromised numbers to make calls. Just because the number appears to be from Optus doesn't mean the person calling is legitimate. Always verify caller identity independently, regardless of what number appears on your screen.
Can I block 0403 796 940 on my phone?
Yes, most phones allow you to block numbers. After blocking 0403 796 940, add it to your contacts as a scam number for reference. If you continue receiving calls from similar numbers claiming to be family members, report them to ACMA (acma.gov.au) and contribute to Reverseau's community database to help warn other Australians.
What other scam types use similar impersonation tactics?
Family impersonation is one of several impersonation scams. Other common types include scammers posing as government agencies (ATO, NBN), banks, or delivery services. The defence for any impersonation scam is the same: hang up, verify independently through official channels, and report to the appropriate authority. When in doubt about a call, always hang up and call the organisation directly using a number you find yourself.