- Spam
- Scam
Beware of 0480 049 038, a phone number reported for making robo calls about mortgage comparisons. Learn how to handle these calls effectively.
Understanding the Calls from 0480 049 038
The phone number 0480 049 038 / 0480049038 has been reported by numerous users as a source of unsolicited robo calls, ostensibly from someone named "Belinda" representing a company called B Choice. The nature of these calls reveals a sophisticated scam designed to mimic a genuine conversation about mortgage comparisons. Users have reported unsettling experiences, where the so-called “Belinda” appears to engage in dialogue while actually being an automated system.
Classification: Scam Call
Based on user reports, this number can definitively be classified as a scam. The feedback indicates several telltale signs of a robo call scam:
- Automated Responses: Reviewers noted that while it initially sounds like a real conversation, users quickly realised that the questions posed by the caller were programmed.
- Scripted Dialogue: The calls included pauses meant for responses, but these often lead to unnatural prompts, further highlighting the automated nature of the call.
- Fake Background Noise: Many reports mention hearing chatter and typing in the background, which is cleverly designed to create the illusion of a call centre.
- Manipulative Questions: The use of leading phrases such as “don’t you want to talk to me?” or “I will text you a report” aims to engage recipients emotionally and encourages them to provide personal information.
How to Handle Such Calls
If you receive a call from 0480 049 038 / 0480049038, the best approach is to hang up immediately. Here are some practical tips:
- Do Not Engage: Avoid answering questions or providing any personal information. Engaging with the call may encourage further contact.
- Block the Number: Use your phone's blocking feature to prevent future calls from this number.
- Report the Call: Consider reporting the incident to the relevant authorities, such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which tracks scam numbers.
Why Awareness is Crucial
Understanding the tactics of such scams can protect you from potential fraud. Robo calls like the one from 0480 049 038 / 0480049038 may sound convincing, but staying vigilant is key. Always remember: if it sounds too good to be true—such as offers for reducing mortgage length or costs—it's wise to hold your guard up.
For further information about suspicious numbers, consider using 'Reverseau'—a helpful tool for identifying who called you in Australia and determining if a number is a known scam.
Help others by sharing your experience with 0480 049 038!
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What Our Users Reviewed
This number seems to be an automated call attempting to sell mortgage refinancing services.
The call featured a pre-recorded message promoting mortgage refinancing, which can be considered unsolicited advertising.
Scam call, using AI to replicate human voice.
I answered this call and immediately the woman started talking before I could finish saying “hello”
She was rambling on about something and I interrupted and said “who is this?”
Then there was the sound of typing and I could hear chatter in the background.
She has an Aussie accent and said “Belinda from B Choice”
She then kept talking about lowering mortgages. I just said “no” when “Belinda” paused (and typed) and then she said “don’t you like my voice?”
I realised this was a robo scam call, BUT, if you are not alert, it could appear to be a real person on the other end.
At one point she says “I will text you a report”
I said “no, post it to me” and the robo response was “I can only send it to you via a text message” and asks for your phone number.
BLOCKED.
I didn’t think telemarketing was allowed on Sundays, so picked up call.
Got female called Belinda. Appeared to be that robo call scammer. Had fake call centre background chatter.
She started talking then paused for me to reply. And the robo caller seemed to have a glitch as she even said “pause for 1.5 seconds”
Laughed at that and I then heard fake typing. She then asked another question and I again heard the “pause for 1.5 seconds”
Definitely a scammer!!! Block this number!!!
Picked up call and the woman went straight into a spiel about mortgages.
She asked a question then stopped for me to reply. While she was silent, I could hear call centre chatter in the background.
The female then started asking me questions. I didn’t reply, and then she paused again.
She actually said “pause for 1.5 seconds”
It was after this that I realised this was some A.I. / Robo call.
Out of curiosity, when this robot / A.I. Paused, I asked “who is this, and it said “I’m Belinda from B Choice”
It was actually clever how they had this sounding so convincing. So much so, that I would actually hate for someone to fall into this scammers trap.
Please be careful peeps!
I received a call from this number. As soon as I answered, a female voice started talking. Female had Australian accent. At first I thought it was a real person, in a call centre as it sounded busy in the background. The female said she was Belinda and was calling about mortgages. She would ask questions and pause. When she paused, I could hear typing on a keyboard. But the thing is, when she paused, I didn’t answer her question, so she then asked more questions before pausing again and then started typing again. It was around about here that I realised it was a robotic call. People be careful as it’s easy at first to think this is a real person calling.
OMG!!! I just got a call from this number as well, which I missed, however called back prior to checking the number here.
It’s such a weird one. I literally made a grunting noise and the robotic voice actually said “pause for 1 and a half seconds”, so this has to be the same scam as the reviews as written below!!!
Everyone please be aware of this number as like everyone has written before, it sounds like a real person and a real call centre in the background.
I would have first of all believed it until I heard the fake person saying “pause for 1 and a half seconds)
When I answered, a female with Australian accent was on the other end. She straight away asked me a question and I took a bit of time to answer as I had been woken up by the call.
I noticed she then started to speak over me, so I shut my mouth.
It was then that I realised this wasn’t even a real person I was speaking to as she would ask a question, then leave time for me to “answer” before talking again.
I could hear talking in the background and what also sounded as keyboard typing.
This set up is very clever as I nearly believed it to be a real person asking me about my mortgage and asking if I was happy. Particularly nearly catching me out as I was half asleep and drowsy.
Somewhere throughout the call, she said she was Belinda and was calling from B Choice.
During the call it said it would send me information (which thankfully I have not received)
Call from this number was a female voice (Australian accent), at first I thought it was an person on the other end, calling from a noisy call centre.
The female started talking and asked a question and paused, I didn’t say anything, but this person knew my name. As she stopped, I could hear as if she was typing.
She then started talking again and the started raving on about mortgages. Then again paused and the typing clicking started again.
I then realised it wasn’t a real person and was actually like a robotic character on the other end.
The clear points that stood out was this robot woman called herself Belinda and was from a company called B Choice.
There were also weird things this robot was saying. When I didn’t answer one of her questions, there was “typing” and she said “don’t you like me or is it that you don’t like the sound of my voice”
Weird … weird … weird.
Blocked.
When I answered this call, it was a female with Aussie accent and had call centre noise in the background.
The caller appeared robotic, like reading from a script, and addressed me by name. There was a short spiel then a pause. I said “hello?” at the first pause and then the Belinda character continued to talk.
It went on about mortgage reductions, I didn’t say anything else, then she said something along the lines of “don’t you want to talk to me” or “don’t you like the sound of my voice?”
You could hear fake typing noises.
I just remained silent.
The “Belinda” continued and said “I will send you through some information” and again was a pause and more fake typing.
I then hung up and have blocked this number.
If anyone gets a call from this number, please be careful as it actually sounded like a real person!!!
Caller was like a robocall … like the previous person’s review where it was a female called Belinda wanting to cut 7 years off my mortgage.
I could also hear call centre type chat in the background and when this robot voice paused, you could hear “typing” as if this fake Belinda was typing responses.
Block.
When I answered this call, it appeared to be a female on the other end with call centre noise in the background.
However I believed it to be a recorded message that paused in the correct places.
Call went as follows:
Hi ______ (inset my first name) do you want to learn about mortgage comparisons. It’s Belinda from B Choice.
(then there was a pause- I guess for the callee to answer - I didn’t say anything)
The recorded message continued.
Don’t you want to talk to me or do you not like the sound of my voice.
(I didn’t reply at the pause)
Would you like to hear more about mortgage rates.
I then hung up.