04 8998 9936 - 0489989936: Silent Calls and Chinese Language Probing

• Scam
• Uncertain

04 8998 9936 (0489989936): 6 reports of silent calls and suspicious language-testing calls. Callers speak Chinese, probe for language preference, then hang up.

Silent Calls and Language Probing from 04 8998 9936

Six contributors have reported calls from 04 8998 9936 (also written as 0489989936) showing a distinct pattern of either silent calls or callers probing whether recipients speak Chinese. The number is allocated to a satellite mobile service provider. Two reports specifically mention silent_call tactics, while four others describe callers initiating contact in Chinese and abruptly ending calls when the recipient responded in English.

One contributor noted the caller appeared to be testing whether the recipient would speak Chinese and determining their gender, suggesting this may be part of a targeting or list-validation scheme. The language-based probing combined with the silent calls indicates this number is being used for either scam preparation or nuisance calling campaigns.

What Callers from 04 8998 9936 Do

Contributors who answered calls from 0489989936 reported two distinct behaviours. Some received complete silence followed by the caller hanging up, with no attempt at conversation. Others experienced callers who initiated contact speaking rapidly in Chinese, then persisted even when recipients clearly stated they speak English and are Australian.

One contributor described the caller asking for a name in Chinese. Another report indicates the caller was "pretending to dial the wrong number" as a pretext to test whether the recipient speaks Chinese and to determine gender. When recipients insisted on speaking English or explained they don't speak Chinese fluently, the callers would either speak faster or simply disconnect.

Call Patterns and Timing

Reports for 04 8998 9936 span four consecutive days from 20 to 22 November 2025. The silent calls occurred early morning (around 04:08 and 04:21 UTC), while the language-probing calls happened later in the morning (between 07:05 and 07:45 UTC). The timing suggests either automated calling at off-peak hours or coordination across multiple callers using the same number.

All six incidents occurred within answered or missed call channels, indicating active dialling rather than voicemail or text-based contact. Contributors consistently reported the calls were unexpected and unwanted.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 04 8998 9936

If 04 8998 9936 calls you:

• Do not: Engage with the caller, answer questions about language preference or gender, or provide any personal information
• Do: Let the call go to voicemail, block the number immediately after the first call, and do not return any missed calls from this number
• If you do answer: Hang up as soon as you hear silence or a caller speaking in an unfamiliar language, then block the number
• Do not: Press any numbers in response to automated prompts or recorded messages

How to Report 04 8998 9936

Report this number and your experience to the following Australian authorities and services:

• Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au - file a complaint about the unwanted or harassing calls
• Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au - report if you suspect fraudulent intent
• Do Not Call Register at donotcall.gov.au - lodge a complaint if the caller breached the Do Not Call list
• ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au - if you believe this is part of a larger cybercrime campaign
• Reverseau - contribute your experience with 04 8998 9936 to help other Australians identify this number

When reporting to ACMA or Scamwatch, include the date and time of the call, what the caller said or did, and any context about how the number may have obtained your details.

Frequently Asked Questions