- Scam
Community reports for 04 8990 2956 (0489902956): Scammers contact car sellers via SMS and calls, posing as buyers and sending phishing links for fake vehicle history reports.
Car Sale Phishing Scam Reports for 04 8990 2956
Two contributors have reported suspicious contact from 04 8990 2956 (also written as 0489902956) targeting car sellers. Both incidents involve scammers posing as interested buyers, then directing victims to fraudulent websites designed to harvest personal information. The scam specifically exploits the car-selling process by requesting vehicle inspection reports and history checks through fake links.
The pattern is deliberate: initial contact appears legitimate, focusing on the seller's advertised vehicle, then quickly pivots to requesting documentation through sketchy links. Contributors who clicked the links reported the websites were clearly designed to capture personal details. This 0489902956 number operates as a mobile service, suggesting the scammer uses a standard mobile line rather than a dedicated business number to appear more legitimate.
What Callers from 04 8990 2956 Say
One contributor described receiving an SMS from 04 8990 2956 from someone claiming interest in their car for sale. The message quickly escalated to requesting a vehicle inspection report, accompanied by a suspicious website link. When the contributor clicked, they immediately recognised the site as phishing, designed to collect personal information.
A second report documented a call from 0489902956 with similar intent. The caller again referenced the advertised vehicle and pushed the victim to pay for a vehicle history report, providing a dodgy link as the supposedly legitimate source. Both contributors noted the urgency in the requests and the suspicious nature of the links provided.
Report Patterns and Timing
Both reports came in within a month, indicating ongoing activity from this 04 8990 2956 number. The scam operates across multiple contact channels - both SMS and answered calls - suggesting the scammer actively works the number rather than using it for automated spam. One report arrived in early February 2026, the other in early January, showing consistent targeting of car sellers over time.
The dual-channel approach (SMS and voice calls) is notable. The scammer doesn't rely on a single method; they adapt based on response. If an SMS doesn't convert, they follow up with calls to the same number, increasing pressure and likelihood of victim engagement.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 04 8990 2956
If 04 8990 2956 calls about your car listing:
- Do not: Click any links sent via SMS or provided during calls, pay for vehicle reports through their links, or share personal details like driver's licence number, address, or financial information
- Do: Hang up immediately, verify any legitimate car-buying inquiries through your original advertisement, obtain vehicle history reports directly from official providers like CARSALES or your state's transport authority, and block the number on your phone
- Report suspicious websites: If you clicked a link, change your passwords immediately and monitor your accounts for unauthorised activity
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 04 8990 2956
If you receive an SMS from 0489902956 about your vehicle:
- Do not: Click any links in the message, reply to the SMS, or open attachments
- Do: Delete the message immediately, mark it as spam on your phone, forward it to 0429 999 888 (ACMA spam reporting), and block 04 8990 2956 to prevent future contact
- If you already clicked: Run a security scan on your phone, change passwords for email and financial accounts, and monitor credit reports for unauthorised applications
How to Report 04 8990 2956
Report this scam through these Australian resources:
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Report the SMS spam or phishing attempt at acma.gov.au. Include the phone number 04 8990 2956, the message content, and date received
- Scamwatch: Lodge a detailed report at scamwatch.gov.au describing the car sale phishing attempt, including how the scammer contacted you and what personal information was requested
- ReportCyber: If you clicked the phishing link or believe your device was compromised, report it to cyber.gov.au
- Reverseau: Contribute your experience with 0489902956 to help other Australian car sellers recognise and avoid this scam
Help others by sharing your experience with 0489 902 956!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Message from someone interested in my car. asked for vehicle inspection report and sent me a sketchy website link. after I clicked, clearly after my personal info
Rang about my car for sale, trying to get me to pay for vehicle history report, dodgy link
Help others by sharing your experience with 0489 902 956!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I already clicked the phishing link from 04 8990 2956?
Act quickly. Change passwords for your email, banking, and other important accounts from a different device. Run a security scan on your phone to check for malware. Monitor your bank statements and credit reports for unauthorised activity. Contact your bank if you entered financial details. Forward the SMS to 0429 999 888 and report the incident to ACMA at acma.gov.au. If you shared identity documents or driver's licence details, also report to scamwatch.gov.au.
Is 04 8990 2956 a legitimate car inspection service?
No. Community reports for 0489902956 confirm this is a phishing scam targeting car sellers. Legitimate vehicle history reports come from official providers like CARSALES, Redbook, or your state's transport authority (e.g., VicRoads, NSW Transport). Never obtain reports through links sent by unknown callers or via SMS. Always go directly to the official website of the service.
Why do scammers use the number 04 8990 2956 to contact car sellers?
04 8990 2956 appears to be a mobile number (registered to a satellite provider), which helps the scammer seem like a casual buyer rather than a business. Car sellers frequently receive calls from potential buyers, so this number blends in. The scammer exploits the normal car-selling process where buyers do request inspection and history reports, making their request seem legitimate until they provide the phishing link.
How do these scammers get my phone number and know I'm selling a car?
Your phone number is likely attached to your car listing on classified websites like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, or Carsales. Scammers scrape these listings automatically and contact car sellers en masse. They don't personally research your vehicle-they use generic messages about being interested in your car and quickly pivot to the phishing link, hoping victims will comply before noticing something is wrong.
What's the difference between the SMS and call reports from 04 8990 2956?
Both reports describe the same scam from 0489902956 operating via different channels. One contributor received an SMS requesting a vehicle inspection report with a suspicious link. Another received a call with the same request and a dodgy link to a vehicle history report. The scammer uses both SMS and calls to increase contact attempts and conversion rates, adapting to whichever method gets a response.
Should I block 04 8990 2956 on my phone?
Yes, block 0489902956 immediately. Community reports confirm this number is actively used for car sale phishing scams. Blocking prevents follow-up calls or messages. You can also report it as spam through your phone's built-in spam reporting feature, which helps your provider and other users identify and filter malicious numbers like 04 8990 2956.