04 8551 0481 - 0485510481: Child Impersonation Scam Reports

• Scam
• Spam

Community reports for 04 8551 0481 (0485510481): Callers impersonate family members claiming phone damage, requesting new contact details with phishing links included.

Child Impersonation Scam Reports for 04 8551 0481

Three contributors have reported scam activity from 04 8551 0481 (also written as 0485510481), with a consistent pattern of impersonation targeting parents. The scammers pose as adult children claiming they've damaged their phones and need their parents to save a new contact number. Two of the three reports about 0485510481 came via SMS, while one came through a phone call where the scammer greeted the recipient with "hi dad."

What makes this scam particularly deceptive is the familiarity approach - callers don't ask for money directly or make unusual demands upfront. Instead, they establish a false sense of urgency around phone damage to justify why they're contacting from an unfamiliar number. Contributors who received messages from 04 8551 0481 reported that the scammer provided the Optus mobile number as their supposed new contact, lending apparent legitimacy to the request.

What Callers from 04 8551 0481 Say

Contributors report receiving messages such as "hi dad I've broken my phone" and "I dropped my phone down the toilet" from this number. In one case, the scammer claimed to have broken their phone and asked the recipient to save 04 8551 0481 as their new number. The follow-up communications from 0485510481 included phishing links designed to capture personal information or login credentials.

One contributor with no children received the "dropped my phone down the toilet" message, which immediately signalled the scam. However, parents without knowledge of recent phone damage incidents in their families would likely be concerned enough to engage further, creating the opportunity for the scammer to request money for a replacement device or to click the phishing link provided.

Report Patterns and Timing

All three reports of 04 8551 0481 occurred within a 48-hour window in early November 2025, suggesting an active campaign targeting multiple households. The SMS channel accounted for two of the three reports, with one incoming call also reported. The scammers appear to be using Optus mobile infrastructure (the number is allocated as an Optus mobile service), which adds to the deception by appearing as a legitimate Australian mobile number.

One contributor noted that the SMS approach is effective because it requires less real-time interaction than a phone call - parents may read the message later and respond without immediate scrutiny. The time-sensitive emotional appeal (child in distress with broken phone) is designed to bypass critical thinking.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 04 8551 0481

If 04 8551 0481 calls you:

• Do not: Confirm personal details, agree to send money, or promise to help replace a phone without independent verification
• Do: Hang up immediately and contact your child or family member directly using a known phone number to verify their status
• Do: Block this number on your phone to prevent repeated contact
• Do: Note that legitimate family members will be able to contact you through other means if their phone is genuinely damaged

What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 04 8551 0481

If you receive an SMS from 04 8551 0481:

• Do not: Click any links included in the message or reply with personal information
• Do not: Confirm you have children or provide their names if the message asks for verification
• Do: Delete the message after taking note of the number
• Do: Report the SMS as spam through your phone provider's system
• Do: Forward the message to 0429 999 888 (ACMA Spam Report) if you wish to lodge an official complaint
• Do: Contact your family members directly to confirm they still have access to their actual phone numbers

How to Report 04 8551 0481

If you've received scam communications from 04 8551 0481, consider reporting this number through the following Australian government channels:

• Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) - the official Australian Competition and Consumer Commission scam reporting service
• ACMA (acma.gov.au) - the Australian Communications and Media Authority can investigate unwanted calls and messages
• Your phone provider - Optus can block the number and investigate abuse on their network
• ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) - if the SMS contained a phishing link that you clicked or suspect was compromised
• Reverseau - contribute your experience to help other Australians identify this scam pattern

Frequently Asked Questions