- Scam
Community reports for 04 5137 0585 (0451370585): Callers impersonate Chinese Embassy officials, know recipients' names, and hang up when English is spoken.
Chinese Embassy Impersonation Reports for 04 5137 0585
Two contributors have reported receiving calls from 04 5137 0585 (also written as 0451370585) where callers fraudulently claim to represent the Embassy of China. What stands out across both reports is that the callers already possess the recipient's full name, suggesting potential data breach sourcing. This mobile number, registered to Vodafone Australia, has been consistently used for this impersonation tactic.
The scammers appear to target based on assumed linguistic background. According to one contributor, the caller from 0451370585 immediately hangs up once the recipient indicates they speak English, suggesting the scam is specifically designed to exploit non-English speakers or recent migrants who may be more vulnerable to authority impersonation.
What Callers from 04 5137 0585 Claim
Both contributors received similar scripts from this number. The callers identify themselves as officials from the Chinese Embassy and already know the recipient's name before any introduction. One contributor noted the caller from 04 5137 0585 simply terminated the call as soon as they confirmed they don't speak Chinese, indicating the scammer abandons the approach if language barriers prevent social engineering.
The impersonation tactic relies on three elements: prior knowledge of the target's identity, claimed authority through embassy affiliation, and language-based targeting. The brevity of these calls from 0451370585 suggests the scammers are testing contact lists and only pursuing calls where they can establish linguistic advantage.
Report Patterns and Timing
Both reports for 04 5137 0585 arrived within a five-day window in early January 2026, indicating active campaign periods. One contributor received a missed call from this number, while the other answered and engaged briefly with the caller. The fact that contributors independently recognised this as a scam and looked up the number demonstrates growing community awareness of embassy impersonation tactics on mobile numbers like 0451370585.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 04 5137 0585
If 04 5137 0585 calls you:
- Do not: Engage with claims of embassy affiliation, provide personal information, confirm your language preferences, or return the call
- Do: Hang up immediately, block the number, and verify any legitimate embassy contact through official government channels
- Do: Note that real government agencies and embassies never cold-call threatening legal action or demanding payment
If you speak a language other than English, be especially cautious of unsolicited calls from 0451370585 claiming government or diplomatic authority. Legitimate embassy communications come through official channels, not mobile numbers.
How to Report 04 5137 0585
If you receive a call from this number, report it through these Australian resources:
- Scamwatch - scamwatch.gov.au - report scams and impersonation attempts
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) - acma.gov.au - report fraudulent phone activity and unsolicited calls
- ReportCyber - cyber.gov.au - if the scam involves identity theft or data breach
You can also contribute your experience to Reverseau to help other Australians identify 04 5137 0585 and similar impersonation scams. Community reports help build awareness of these targeting tactics.
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WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Received missed phone call from this number. Did not call back. When I looked up this number, realised it was another scam pretending to be from the embassy of China. Very annoying!
Scammer. They know your name and claimed themselves from the Embassy of China. As long as you said you don't know Chinese, they hang up.
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WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why do the callers from 04 5137 0585 hang up when I speak English?
According to contributor reports, the scammers from 0451370585 hang up specifically when recipients indicate they don't speak Chinese or are English speakers. This suggests the impersonation script is designed for non-English speakers, likely recent migrants or Chinese-speaking Australians, who may be more susceptible to authority impersonation by an alleged Chinese government agency. The scammers are targeting based on language, not random calling.
How do callers from 0451370585 know my name?
Both reports about 04 5137 0585 indicate the callers knew the recipient's full name before any introduction. This suggests the phone number has been used as part of a targeted campaign using data from a breach or purchased list. Real embassy officials do not cold-call with prior personal knowledge unless you've already initiated contact with them.
Is 04 5137 0585 actually from the Chinese Embassy?
No. The Chinese Embassy does not conduct business via unsolicited calls from mobile numbers like 0451370585. Legitimate government and diplomatic communications come through official channels with verifiable contact information. If you need to contact the Chinese Embassy, verify their official contact details independently through the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs website, never by calling back a number that called you.
What should I do if I answered a call from 0451370585?
If you answered 04 5137 0585, do not provide any personal information. Hang up immediately and block the number. If you're concerned about data exposure, check your credit file through Equifax or Experian, and consider reporting to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) if you believe your data has been breached. Report the call to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and ACMA (acma.gov.au).
Are there other phone numbers running the same embassy impersonation scam as 04 5137 0585?
Embassy impersonation scams are common across different phone numbers in Australia. While Reverseau shows 0451370585 specifically flagged for Chinese Embassy impersonation, scammers regularly cycle through numbers. If you receive similar calls claiming to be from any foreign government or embassy, treat them the same way: hang up, block the number, and report to Scamwatch.
Should I call back 0451370585 to verify if it's real?
No. Never call back a number that called you claiming to be from a government agency or embassy. Calling back 04 5137 0585 confirms to scammers that your number is active, leading to more calls and potential forwarding to other scam operations. Instead, independently verify any legitimate contact by calling the official number published on the relevant government website.