- Suspicious
0481 505 166 (0481505166): One contributor reports a recorded robocall impersonating immigration services with urgent form completion claims and press-1 callback prompt.
Immigration Impersonation Robocall from 0481 505 166
A contributor has reported receiving a robocall from 0481 505 166 (also written as 0481505166) claiming to represent immigration authorities. The recorded message stated there was an urgent immigration form requiring immediate completion, followed by a prompt to press 1 to speak with someone. This pattern combines caller impersonation with automated message delivery, a common tactic used to bypass manual calling restrictions and scale scam attempts across many recipients.
The call came from a mobile number (Optus Mobile), which scammers often prefer over landlines as they can be obtained with minimal verification. The robocall format allows attackers to deliver identical scripted messages to hundreds of numbers simultaneously, increasing the chance that some recipients will engage by pressing the callback option.
What Callers from 0481 505 166 Are Claiming
The recorded message from 0481 505 166 falsely claimed to represent immigration services and stated that the recipient had an urgent form requiring completion. This type of claim is designed to create a sense of official authority and time pressure. The follow-up instruction to press 1 to connect with a representative is a standard callback harvesting technique used to confirm active numbers and establish contact with live victims.
Immigration-related impersonation is particularly effective because many people have legitimate interactions with immigration authorities and may initially believe the call is genuine, especially if they've recently submitted applications or documents.
Call Patterns and Timing
The report about 0481 505 166 came through on 24 July 2026 in the early morning hours. The contributor answered the call, confirming this was a live inbound attempt rather than a silent or abandoned call. No additional reports are currently available for this number, though the robocall format suggests the same message may have been sent to other recipients who did not report it.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 0481 505 166
If 0481 505 166 calls you:
- Do not: Press any keys, return the call, or provide personal information such as name, date of birth, visa status, or passport details
- Do: Hang up immediately, do not engage with the prompt to press 1
- Do: If you believe you have a genuine immigration matter pending, contact the Department of Home Affairs directly using the official phone number from their website to verify any claims
- Do: Block 0481505166 on your phone to prevent future calls from this number
How to Report 0481 505 166
If you receive a call from 0481 505 166 claiming to represent immigration or any government agency, report it to the following Australian authorities:
- Scamwatch: Report the call via scamwatch.gov.au - this is Australia's official government resource for scam reporting and includes immigration impersonation scams
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Report robocalls and unwanted telemarketing to acma.gov.au, particularly if you receive repeated calls
- ReportCyber: If the scam involved attempting to obtain personal or financial information, report it to cyber.gov.au
- Reverseau: Report your experience with 0481505166 to help other Australians identify this number and contribute to community safety intelligence
Help others by sharing your experience with 0481 505 166!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Pretending to be from immigration stating I have an urgent message regarding an immigration form that needs to be completed. I then states to press 1 to talk to someone????
Help others by sharing your experience with 0481 505 166!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would a scammer claim to be from immigration?
Immigration-related impersonation is effective because many people have legitimate interactions with the Department of Home Affairs and may not immediately question an 'urgent form' claim. Scammers exploit this trust to pressure victims into providing personal details like passport numbers, dates of birth, or visa information. If 0481 505 166 or any number claims you have an urgent immigration issue, hang up and contact the Department of Home Affairs directly using the official number on their website to verify the claim.
What does pressing 1 on a call from 0481 505 166 actually do?
Pressing 1 on a robocall from 0481505166 or similar scam numbers confirms to the attacker that your number is active and monitored by a real person. This makes your number more valuable for future scam targeting and may transfer you to a live operator who will attempt to extract personal or financial information. The safest response is to hang up without pressing any keys.
How can I verify if an immigration claim is real without calling back?
Never call back a number that called you claiming to be immigration authorities. Instead, if you believe you have a pending immigration matter with 0481 505 166 or receive similar claims, independently look up the official Department of Home Affairs contact number on their website and call that number directly. This way you control who you're speaking with and can verify any claims about your case.
Is 0481 505 166 definitely a scam or could it be legitimate?
The report about 0481505166 describes a recorded robocall claiming to be from immigration and requesting you press 1 to speak with someone. Legitimate government agencies do not operate this way. The Department of Home Affairs does not send unsolicited robocalls with press-1 prompts for urgent forms. If you receive a call from 0481 505 166 with this message, treat it as a scam and do not engage.
What should I do if I already pressed 1 or provided information to this number?
If you already interacted with 0481 505 166 and provided personal information such as passport details, date of birth, or visa status, contact the Department of Home Affairs directly to alert them of a potential security issue. Also contact your bank if you provided any financial information. Monitor your accounts for unusual activity and consider placing a fraud alert with Australian credit reporting bodies. Report the incident to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au and ACMA at acma.gov.au.
Why is this call coming from a mobile number (Optus) instead of a government landline?
Scammers deliberately use mobile numbers because they are easier to obtain with minimal verification compared to business landlines, and they appear less obviously official to callers. 0481505166 is registered to Optus Mobile, but this does not mean Optus is involved in the scam - the number has simply been compromised or spoofed. If you receive suspicious calls from any Optus mobile number claiming to represent government agencies, do not engage and report it to ACMA.