- Scam
04 9335 5156 (0493355156): Contributors report suspicious calls in Chinese, personal information requests, and silent calls. Appears to be a mobile number.
Suspicious Activity on 04 9335 5156
Four contributors have reported calls from 04 9335 5156 (also written as 0493355156), describing a pattern of suspicious activity. The reports indicate this Telstra mobile number has been used for calls in Chinese, attempted personal information requests, and silent call tactics. Two contributors specifically flagged the calls as scam attempts, while others described the activity as highly suspicious and unsolicited.
One contributor noted the caller knew their name before speaking, which triggered immediate alarm. The use of Chinese language combined with personal information requests and silent calls suggests coordinated suspicious activity rather than a legitimate business contact.
What Callers from 04 9335 5156 Have Done
Contributors who answered calls from 0493355156 report distinctly different caller behaviours. One contributor received a call where the person spoke entirely in Chinese without any clear purpose or introduction. Another reported the caller addressed them by name before speaking in Chinese, which escalated their concern that personal information had already been obtained.
A separate contributor from 04 9335 5156 experienced a silent call - the caller said only "hello" and then disconnected immediately. This silent call tactic is commonly associated with scam operations testing whether a number is active and monitored.
Call Patterns and Timeline
Reports about 04 9335 5156 span several weeks, with calls arriving at varying times. The most recent report came in early December, followed by an earlier report in late November, and a silent call incident at the end of November. Contributors describe the calls as unexpected and unprompted - they "rang out of the blue" with no prior context or relationship to the caller.
The combination of language barriers, personal information knowledge, and silent call tactics across multiple reports suggests this number has been active in suspicious calling behaviour over at least a month-long period.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 04 9335 5156
If 04 9335 5156 calls you:
- Do not: Confirm or provide personal information, engage with the caller if they speak a language you don't understand, or return the call if it disconnects
- Do: Let it go to voicemail, hang up immediately if the caller appears to know your name, block the number if it calls repeatedly, and do not assume legitimacy based on it being a mobile number
- If silent: Hang up without responding - do not say anything that confirms the number is active or monitored
Scammers who know your name before you speak may have obtained your information through data breaches or public sources. Do not engage further or try to find out "who this is" by providing additional details.
How to Report 04 9335 5156
If you've received calls from 0493355156 or 04 9335 5156, report your experience to:
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au - use their complaint form to report the suspicious mobile number
- Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au - if you believe the call was an attempted scam
- Your phone provider (Telstra in this case) - report the number directly to request blocking or investigation
- Reverseau - contribute your report to help other Australians identify this number and protect the community
Help others by sharing your experience with 0493 355 156!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Got a call blabbering in Chinese, doesn't seem legit
Called me by name and spoke in Chinese, definitely a scam
Caller just said hello and hung up
Rang out of the blue, highly suspect, feels like scam
Help others by sharing your experience with 0493 355 156!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would someone call from 04 9335 5156 speaking Chinese if they know my name?
A contributor reported this exact scenario with 0493355156 - the caller knew their name but spoke in Chinese. This suggests the caller had pre-collected your personal information (possibly from a data breach or public source) and was testing your responsiveness. This is a common scam tactic where callers verify contact details before initiating a fraud attempt in a language designed to confuse or manipulate you.
What does a silent call from 04 9335 5156 mean?
One contributor reported receiving a call from 04 9335 5156 where the caller simply said "hello" and hung up immediately. Silent calls or brief hang-ups are often used by scam operations to verify that a phone number is active and monitored by a real person. This allows scammers to prioritise your number for follow-up attempts. Do not respond or provide any information if you receive a similar call.
Is 0493355156 a legitimate business number?
Based on community reports, 04 9335 5156 does not appear to be a legitimate business contact. Four contributors have flagged it as suspicious, scam, or nuisance activity. The pattern of unexplained calls in Chinese, personal information requests, and silent call tactics are not consistent with standard business communication. If you believe you know the legitimate owner, verify independently through official channels rather than calling back.
Should I block 04 9335 5156 immediately?
Yes. Given the pattern of reports describing 0493355156 as suspicious or scam activity, blocking this number is advisable. You can block it through your phone's native blocking feature or contact Telstra (your provider if you're with them) to request they block it at the network level. After blocking, consider reporting the number to ACMA and Scamwatch.
Why is this a mobile number (04) and not a business line?
Mobile numbers like 04 9335 5156 can be owned by individuals or businesses. However, scammers frequently use mobile numbers because they are harder to trace than business landlines and can be discarded quickly. The fact that 0493355156 is registered to Telstra doesn't indicate legitimacy - it simply means it's a mobile service rather than a fixed-line business number.
What should I do if 04 9335 5156 calls again after I block it?
If you continue receiving calls from 0493355156 after blocking, or from similar numbers with slight variations, report each instance to ACMA and your phone provider. This pattern may indicate a scam operation using multiple phone numbers. Keep records of call dates and times, and consider filing a police report (via crime stoppers) if the calls escalate or include threats.