Community reports for 0428 240 156 (0428240156): Contributors report impersonation scams using fake names and callback requests, often paired with calls from Perth numbers.
Impersonation and Callback Scam Reports for 0428 240 156
Five contributors have reported suspicious activity from 0428 240 156 (also written as 0428240156), a Telstra mobile number. The pattern centres on impersonation tactics, where callers claim to represent Perth-based companies and request callbacks regarding people the recipient doesn't know. Two of these reports specifically mention impersonation combined with callback requests, a hallmark social engineering technique.
The most concerning report involved a caller using the recipient's actual name and requesting a callback about someone named Matthew. Another contributor received both a missed call from a Perth landline (08 6251 4256) followed immediately by a text from 0428240156 employing the same fake-name callback tactic. This coordinated pattern suggests deliberate social engineering rather than random spam.
What Callers from 0428 240 156 Say
Reports indicate callers and messages from 0428240156 use several consistent deception tactics. One contributor received a voicemail from "Faisal" claiming to represent a Perth company, followed by an SMS urging a callback about someone named Matt Shelley. The contributor explicitly stated they knew no one by that name, yet the caller persisted with both voice and text contact.
Another report describes an SMS from 0428 240 156 that used the recipient's actual name, asking them to contact "Faisal" at a Perth number (08) 6266 4743 about someone named "Tai". A third contributor noted the initial contact came from an Indian-sounding woman who left a voicemail described as polite but suspicious. The use of personal details (recipient's name, generic contact names like Matt and Tai) appears designed to create false familiarity and urgency.
Report Patterns and Timing
The five reports span nearly three years, from October 2023 to February 2026, suggesting this number has been used persistently for impersonation schemes. Contact methods vary across voicemail, SMS, and answered calls, indicating the caller operates across multiple channels to increase callback likelihood. Several reports mention gibberish or follow-up voicemails, a tactic used to prompt curiosity-driven callbacks.
Three reports reference Perth-based numbers or claims, with one specifically mentioning the landline 08 6251 4256 coordinating with 0428240156. This geographic clustering may indicate a network of numbers operated by the same scam operation. Contributors report receiving multiple contact attempts (voicemail followed by SMS, missed call followed by text), a pressure technique designed to make callbacks seem more legitimate.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 0428 240 156
If 0428 240 156 calls you:
- Do not: Return calls to numbers provided by the caller, answer if you don't recognise the number, or engage with requests about unfamiliar people
- Do: Let it go to voicemail, block the number immediately if it contacts you again, and verify any genuine claims by calling the official business directly using a number from their website or official directory
- Verify independently: If the caller claims to represent a company, hang up and ring that organisation directly using a number you source yourself, never using contact details provided by the caller
- Be alert to: Pressure to call back quickly, use of your name combined with unfamiliar contacts, and coordinated contact via multiple channels (missed calls followed by SMS)
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 0428 240 156
If you receive a text from 0428240156:
- Do not: Click any links, reply to the message, or call numbers mentioned in the SMS
- Do: Block the number, delete the message, and report it as spam to your phone provider
- Forward to authorities: You can forward the SMS to 0429 999 888 (the Australian mobile industry spam reporting service) to help combat these scams
- Screenshot for records: Keep a copy of the SMS text for your records and if you choose to report it to authorities
How to Report 0428 240 156
If you've been contacted by 0428 240 156 or 0428240156, report it through these official channels:
- Scamwatch: Report the scam at scamwatch.gov.au, Australia's official consumer fraud alert service. Include details of what was claimed, when contact occurred, and any money or information requested.
- ACMA: Lodge a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority at acma.gov.au. They track patterns of misuse across telecommunications networks.
- ReportCyber: If any personal data was compromised or you suspect identity theft, report it at cyber.gov.au
- Block and document: Block the number on your phone and keep records of all contact attempts. This helps establish a pattern if the number escalates to threats or ongoing harassment.
- Reverse AU community: Contribute your experience to Reverse AU so other Australians can see the real-world behaviour of this number and stay alert.
Had a call or text from 0428 240 156? Tell others what happened.
SUBMIT A REPORTReport Ratings
Community Reports
Got a message after sketchy voicemail from Indian-sounding lady, sounded polite but felt like fraud
Dodgy call, wanted me to ring back Perth number about my partner, weird vibes
Missed call from 08 6251 4256, then text from 0428 240 156 using my name asking me to call back about someone named Matthew, don't know anyone named Matthew, won't call back
SMS saying 'Hi [name], could you contact Faisal at (08) 6266 4743 about Tai' - no idea who Tai is. also got a gibberish voicemail shortly after
Landline voicemail from Faisal claiming to be from Perth company asking to call back about Matt Shelley, also got text urging callback, don't know anyone named Matt
caller asked me to contact her about someone named Nicholas. Suspicious they got the name from my phone
Had a call or text from 0428 240 156? Tell others what happened.
SUBMIT A REPORTFrequently Asked Questions
Why did 0428 240 156 text me using my real name?
Reports from contributors show that 0428240156 uses personal details like recipient names to build false credibility. This tactic, called personalisation, is designed to make the scam seem more legitimate and lower your guard. The caller likely obtained your name from a data breach, public listing, or other source. Never assume a caller is legitimate just because they know your name.
What should I do if 0428240156 asks me to call back about someone I don't know?
Do not call back. Multiple contributors have reported 0428 240 156 using this exact tactic, claiming to need to discuss unknown people named Matthew or Tai. This is a callback scam designed to initiate contact on the scammer's terms. If a genuine business needs to reach you, they will persist through official channels, not pressure you via urgently worded texts.
I got a missed call from a Perth number followed by an SMS from 0428 240 156. Is this a scam?
Yes, this pattern has been reported multiple times from 0428240156. One contributor received a missed call from 08 6251 4256 immediately followed by a text from 0428 240 156 using a fake name and callback request. The coordination between different numbers suggests a organised scam operation. Block both numbers and do not engage.
Should I be worried if I already called back 0428240156?
If you called back but provided no personal information, financial details, or passwords, the immediate risk is limited. However, do not call back further and block 0428 240 156 immediately. If you did share details, change your passwords and monitor your accounts for fraud. You can report the scam attempt at scamwatch.gov.au.
Why did I get a garbled voicemail before the text from 0428 240 156?
Several contributors have reported receiving gibberish or incoherent voicemails from this scam network. This appears deliberate, designed to trigger curiosity and prompt you to call back to find out who tried to reach you. It's a psychological trick to override your caution. Never call back a number to 'find out who it was'-if it's important, they'll try again through proper channels.
Can I report 0428 240 156 to my phone provider?
Yes. Contact your phone provider (in this case Telstra, since 0428240156 is a Telstra mobile) and report the number for scam activity. They can block it network-wide and investigate if it's part of a larger fraud operation. For added protection, report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au and ACMA at acma.gov.au.