04 7685 7335 - 0476857335: Police Impersonation Smishing

• Scam

One contributor reported an SMS from 04 7685 7335 (0476857335) impersonating police with fake Detective Senior Constable warnings and phishing links.

Police Impersonation Smishing Reports for 04 7685 7335

A contributor has flagged an SMS from 04 7685 7335 (also written as 0476857335) that impersonates law enforcement. The message addressed the recipient by name ("Hey Monica") and claimed to be from Detective Senior Constable Leah PATERSON, accompanied by official-looking warnings designed to create urgency and legitimacy. This is a classic smishing attack combining impersonation with phishing elements to trick recipients into clicking malicious links or providing personal information.

The Telstra mobile number 0476857335 was used to send this fraudulent SMS. The casual greeting combined with an authoritative police title is a deliberate social engineering tactic intended to lower the recipient's guard before introducing the harmful request.

What the SMS from 04 7685 7335 Contained

The message impersonating police included a fabricated detective name and rank. Contributors receiving this type of SMS report that the formatting and tone were designed to appear legitimate, using official language and structure to bypass spam filters and recipient scepticism. The inclusion of a specific name (Detective Senior Constable Leah PATERSON) is intended to make the impersonation more credible. The SMS also contained or directed to phishing links-the contributor identified these as part of the smishing scheme.

Why This Impersonation Is Dangerous

Police impersonation is one of the most effective scam tactics because it combines authority with fear. Recipients who believe they are being contacted by law enforcement may act immediately without verifying. Clicking links in such messages can lead to credential theft, financial compromise, or malware installation. The casual opening ("Hey Monica") followed by official language creates cognitive dissonance that makes victims more compliant. This specific SMS from 0476857335 demonstrates how scammers layer multiple trust signals to override normal caution.

What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 04 7685 7335

If you receive a suspicious SMS claiming to be from police:

• Do not: Click any links in the message, reply to the SMS, or call the number provided
• Do not: Download attachments or provide personal, banking, or identification information
• Do: Contact the police directly using the official number from their website or a phone directory (not a number from the SMS)
• Do: Block the number 04 7685 7335 immediately in your phone settings
• Do: Delete the message after reporting it
• Do: Forward the SMS to 0429 999 888 (ACMA's spam reporting service) before deleting

How to Report 04 7685 7335

Reporting this number helps protect other Australians and provides law enforcement with evidence of active scam campaigns:

• Report to ACMA: Forward the SMS to 0429 999 888 with the sender's number (04 7685 7335 or 0476857335)
• Report to Scamwatch: Visit scamwatch.gov.au and lodge a report with the message content and any links you received (without clicking them)
• Report to ReportCyber: If you clicked a link or suspect data compromise, report to cyber.gov.au for additional support
• Report on Reverseau: Share your experience with 0476857335 on this platform to help contributors identify similar threats
• Consider reporting to police: If you engaged with the scam or believe your information was compromised, file a report with your local police station or via their online reporting portal

Frequently Asked Questions