- Scam
Community reports for 04 5139 4626 (0451394626): Scammers impersonating family members via SMS and calls, requesting contact with other numbers.
Family Impersonation Scam Reports for 04 5139 4626
Two contributors have reported scam activity from 04 5139 4626 (also written as 0451394626) involving family member impersonation. The reports indicate a coordinated social engineering approach where callers and SMS senders claim to be relatives, then pivot to phishing requests. This type of scam exploits trust within family networks and urgency associated with perceived family emergencies or requests.
The mobile number 0451394626 is allocated to Vodafone Australia. Both reports describe the same impersonation tactic, suggesting this number may be actively being used for systematic family scams rather than isolated fraud attempts.
What Scammers Using 04 5139 4626 Are Doing
One contributor received an SMS from 04 5139 4626 claiming to be a family member texting from an iPad. The message then requested the recipient text a different phone number - a classic phishing redirect designed to isolate the victim from verification channels and establish direct contact with the scammer.
A second report describes a voice call from 0451394626 where the caller impersonated a family member. No additional details were captured about specific claims or requests during the call, but the pattern aligns with the SMS report: establishing false family identity as the foundation for a scam request.
Why This Scam Works
Family impersonation scams exploit several vulnerabilities. Recipients often answer calls from unknown numbers if they think a family member might be in distress. SMS messages claiming device changes (like texting from an iPad) provide plausible cover for unfamiliar messaging patterns. Once the scammer has established the false identity, redirecting contact to another number creates distance between the victim and legitimate family verification.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 04 5139 4626
If 04 5139 4626 calls you claiming to be a family member:
- Do not: Accept the caller's identity at face value, provide personal information, or follow their requests
- Do: Hang up immediately and contact your family member directly using a phone number you know is correct (not from the call or message)
- Do: Ask security questions only you and your family would know
- Do: Block the number 0451394626 in your phone settings
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 04 5139 4626
If you receive a text message from 04 5139 4626 or 0451394626 impersonating a family member:
- Do not: Click any links, reply to the message, or text the number they provide
- Do: Delete the message immediately
- Do: Contact your family member via a known phone number to verify they actually sent the message
- Do: Report the SMS as spam by forwarding to 0429 999 888
- Do: Block 0451394626 on your phone
How to Report 04 5139 4626
If you've been targeted by this scam:
- Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au with details of the impersonation attempt
- Report the SMS to the ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority) by forwarding the message to 0429 999 888
- Report the call to the ACMA at acma.gov.au
- Block 0451394626 on your mobile phone and consider adding it to your contacts as 'Scam - Do Not Answer'
- Contribute your report to Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number
Help others by sharing your experience with 0451 394 626!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
pretended to be family member, said texting from iPad, asked me to text another number
number pretending to be a family member
Help others by sharing your experience with 0451 394 626!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would a scammer pretend to be my family member on 04 5139 4626?
Family impersonation scams work because people instinctively trust family and lower their guard. Scammers using 0451394626 rely on you answering quickly, not questioning the caller, and complying with requests before you can verify. This tactic is especially effective if you have elderly relatives or if the caller catches you at an emotional moment.
What does it mean when 04 5139 4626 says they're 'texting from an iPad'?
This is a cover story. Scammers claim to be texting from a different device to explain why the message comes from an unfamiliar number (0451394626) rather than their usual phone. It's designed to seem plausible and prevent you from questioning why a family member would text from a number you don't recognise.
Should I text the other number that 04 5139 4626 directs me to?
Absolutely not. If 0451394626 or any text message directs you to contact another number, that is a major red flag. The scammer is trying to isolate you from legitimate contact channels so they can control the conversation. Always hang up or delete the message and contact your family directly using a number you know.
Is 04 5139 4626 actually a Vodafone number?
The number 0451394626 is allocated to Vodafone Australia, but that doesn't mean the person using it is a legitimate Vodafone customer. Scammers can use VOIP services, number spoofing, or compromised accounts to make calls appear to come from mobile numbers. The Vodafone allocation tells you where the number was originally registered, not who is currently using it.
What should I do if I already responded to a message from 04 5139 4626?
If you've already texted the alternate number provided by 0451394626, stop communicating immediately. Do not provide any personal information, banking details, or passwords. Contact your family member directly to report what happened, report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, and monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. Consider placing a fraud alert with your bank.
Can I report 04 5139 4626 to my mobile provider?
Yes. Contact Vodafone Australia to report the scam activity on 0451394626. They can flag the account and potentially suspend it. You can also report the number to the ACMA at acma.gov.au and to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. Multiple reports help authorities track and shut down scam operations more quickly.