- Suspicious
- Scam
- Unknown
04 1872 9842 (0418729842): Community reports describe SMS phishing impersonating health funds and local councils, requesting personal details and health fund information.
SMS Phishing Reports for 04 1872 9842
Three contributors have flagged SMS messages from 04 1872 9842 (also written as 0418729842) as phishing and scam attempts. The reports reveal a pattern of text messages impersonating legitimate Australian organisations - health providers and local councils - to trick recipients into sharing personal and financial information.
The most concerning report about 0418729842 involved a text claiming to be from Hunter ENT requesting confirmation of health fund details, despite the recipient never requesting a referral. Another contributor received an SMS from 04 1872 9842 posing as a local council demanding verification of dog registration details, even though the recipient does not own a dog. These impersonations appear designed to exploit trust in established organisations.
What Callers from 04 1872 9842 Send
Contributors describe SMS messages from 04 1872 9842 that mimic official communications. One text falsely claimed to be from a health referral service and requested the recipient confirm their health fund details - information typically verified through official channels, not unsolicited SMS. Another message posed as council correspondence about pet registration, a scenario designed to pressure recipients who might worry about regulatory penalties.
A third report noted the sender used formal language including the term "SMS" in the message itself, which the contributor recognised as unusual phrasing that raised immediate suspicion about authenticity.
Report Patterns and Timing
All three reports about 0418729842 came through SMS channel, indicating this number is being used exclusively for text-based phishing rather than voice calls. The reports span different time periods, with the most recent received in January 2026 and earlier instances from late 2024 and mid-2023, suggesting ongoing activity over an extended period.
The impersonation targets vary across different sectors - healthcare administration, local government services - suggesting either a pattern of testing different pretexts or multiple scammers using the same number.
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 04 1872 9842
If 04 1872 9842 sends you a text message:
- Do not: Click any links in the message, reply to confirm details, or share personal information, health fund details, or identification numbers
- Do: Block the number immediately, delete the message, and verify any claim by contacting the organisation directly using a phone number from their official website
- Do: Be sceptical of unsolicited SMS requesting personal details - legitimate organisations rarely request sensitive information via text
- Do: If the message claims to be from your health fund or local council, contact them directly using the number on your official documentation or their website, not any contact details provided in the SMS
How to Report 0418729842
If you receive phishing SMS from 04 1872 9842, report it through these Australian government resources:
- Forward the SMS to the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) by texting the message details to 0429 999 888
- Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, providing details of what the message claimed and any links included
- If the message impersonated a specific organisation, report it directly to that organisation's fraud team and ask them to contact relevant authorities
- Report to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au if the SMS included phishing links or malware
Contributing your report helps Reverseau identify active scam numbers and warn other Australians about 04 1872 9842 and similar threats.
Help others by sharing your experience with 0418 729 842!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Had a text from this number - suspicious because they used the term “SMS” in their message - not commonly used now - blocked it.
Text about a Hunter ENT referral asking to confirm health fund details, never requested a referral
Text from local council about overdue dog registration but I don't own a dog
Text saying I need to reschedule my child's doctor appointment but I don't have kids
Help others by sharing your experience with 0418 729 842!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would someone text me from 04 1872 9842 asking about health fund details?
This is a phishing scam. One contributor received an SMS from 04 1872 9842 impersonating Hunter ENT, requesting health fund confirmation. Legitimate healthcare providers will never request sensitive financial details via unsolicited SMS. They verify information through official appointments or authenticated patient portals, not random text messages. If you receive similar requests from 0418729842, do not respond or share any details.
What should I do if 0418729842 texts about council or registration issues?
Do not engage. A contributor reported receiving an SMS from 04 1872 9842 falsely claiming to be from a local council about dog registration fees. This is a common scam tactic - creating fake urgency around regulatory matters to pressure people into responding. Always contact your actual local council directly using their official website number before responding to any such message from 0418729842.
Is 04 1872 9842 a legitimate Telstra number?
While 0418729842 is allocated to Telstra as a mobile number, this allocation does not mean the number is being used legitimately. Scammers frequently use mobile numbers to send phishing SMS. The three reports about 04 1872 9842 document phishing and scam activity, regardless of the underlying provider.
What makes the SMS from 04 1872 9842 obviously fake?
Several red flags appear in reports about 0418729842. One contributor noticed the sender used the term "SMS" in the message itself - unusual phrasing that suggested automated or non-English-speaking origin. Messages claiming to be from health funds or councils requesting personal details via unsolicited text are inherently suspicious. Legitimate organisations do not conduct identity verification this way.
How many people have been targeted by 04 1872 9842?
Three contributors have reported SMS phishing from 04 1872 9842, with reports spanning from mid-2023 to January 2026. The variety of impersonation targets - healthcare, local council - across different time periods suggests either sustained scam activity or multiple bad actors using the same number. Each report documents phishing attempts requesting personal or financial information.
What should I do if I already replied to a text from 0418729842?
If you replied to 04 1872 9842 or shared any personal information, take immediate action: contact your bank or health fund to report potential fraud, monitor your accounts for suspicious activity, and consider placing a fraud alert with credit reporting agencies. Report the scam to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and ACMA (text 0429 999 888). Block 0418729842 immediately and do not engage further with any follow-up messages.