- Scam
08 5117 0518 (0851170518): Community reports describe PayPal impersonation calls claiming account compromise with urgent demands for immediate action.
PayPal Impersonation Reports for 08 5117 0518
One contributor has reported a scam call from 08 5117 0518 (also written as 0851170518) involving PayPal impersonation. The caller claimed the contributor's account had been compromised and required immediate action, employing classic urgency tactics to pressure the recipient into responding without verification.
This Western Australian number is allocated to Symbio Networks as a local service line. The impersonation approach mirrors known PayPal phishing schemes where callers attempt to gain access to account details or payment information by fabricating security breaches.
What Callers from 08 5117 0518 Claim
According to the report about 0851170518, the caller stated the account had been hacked and created significant alarm by suggesting immediate compromise of financial information. The contributor reported major red flags during the call, indicating the caller's approach was aggressive and designed to provoke panic rather than follow legitimate PayPal security protocols.
Legitimate PayPal communications never demand immediate action over an unsolicited call. They do not ask for passwords, full account details, or banking information via phone. If you receive a call from 08 5117 0518 claiming to be from PayPal, this contradicts PayPal's actual customer service practices.
Report Activity and Context
The report of 08 5117 0518 was submitted in mid-November 2025 after the contributor answered the call. Two additional reports about this number remain unspecified regarding details but suggest ongoing suspicious activity. Contributors have also indicated this caller has been reported to authorities, adding to the pattern of concern around 0851170518.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 08 5117 0518
If 08 5117 0518 calls you with claims about your PayPal account:
- Do not: Provide any personal information, passwords, or banking details; return the call to a number provided by the caller; answer security questions or verify account data
- Do: Hang up immediately; verify any claims by logging into your PayPal account directly via the official website (paypal.com); contact PayPal through official channels if you have account concerns; block the number 08 5117 0518 on your phone
PayPal will never initiate contact about account compromise via unsolicited phone calls. If you're concerned about your account, access it directly through the official PayPal website rather than using contact details from an inbound call.
How to Report 08 5117 0518
If you've received a call from 08 5117 0518 (0851170518) claiming to be from PayPal or another organisation:
- Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au with details of what the caller claimed and requested
- Contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au to report the misleading call
- Report PayPal impersonation directly to PayPal's security team through your account settings or their official website
- If you provided any information, contact your bank immediately to request fraud monitoring
- Report to Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number
Help others by sharing your experience with (08) 5117 0518!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Claimed to be from PayPal saying I'd been hacked, major alarm bells
Suspected scammer but no details given
This caller's been reported to the authorities
Help others by sharing your experience with (08) 5117 0518!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would a scammer call claiming to be from PayPal?
Scammers impersonate PayPal because the platform handles financial transactions and account holders often have payment methods linked. By creating urgency around account compromise, they pressure victims into revealing passwords, account details, or authorising fraudulent transactions. The contributor who received the call from 08 5117 0518 immediately recognised this approach as suspicious, but others may panic and comply before verifying the caller's legitimacy.
How can I verify if a call from 08 5117 0518 is really from PayPal?
Do not trust any contact details the caller provides. Instead, hang up and log into your PayPal account directly via paypal.com to check for notifications or security alerts. Legitimate PayPal security teams contact you through your account dashboard first. If you received a call from 0851170518 claiming urgency, this is a red flag-PayPal does not operate this way. You can also contact PayPal directly using the phone number listed on your account statement or the official website.
What should I do if I already gave information to the caller from 08 5117 0518?
Act immediately: change your PayPal password from a secure device; review your account activity and transaction history; contact your bank and payment providers to alert them of potential fraud; enable two-factor authentication on your PayPal account; monitor your accounts for unauthorised transactions. Consider placing a fraud alert with the major Australian credit reporting agencies. The caller from 0851170518 may attempt to use any information you provided.
Is 08 5117 0518 a legitimate PayPal number?
No. 08 5117 0518 (0851170518) is allocated to Symbio Networks, a telecommunications provider in Western Australia, not PayPal's corporate infrastructure. PayPal does not initiate security calls to customer landlines or mobiles. Any call from 08 5117 0518 claiming to represent PayPal is an impersonation scam. PayPal communicates account security issues through your account dashboard or email associated with your account.
What are the red flags in the report about 08 5117 0518?
The contributor reported several classic scam indicators: the caller claimed account compromise without the recipient initiating contact; the caller created artificial urgency demanding immediate action; the tactics matched known PayPal phishing schemes designed to panic victims. These elements align with the impersonation and urgency tactics documented in the report about 0851170518, confirming this is a social engineering attack rather than legitimate customer service.
Should I block 08 5117 0518 permanently?
Yes. Block 0851170518 on your phone and report it to your telecommunications provider. Since the number has been associated with PayPal impersonation and reported to authorities, there is no legitimate reason to receive calls from 08 5117 0518. Blocking it prevents the scammer from making further contact attempts. Additionally, report the number through Reverseau and to Scamwatch to protect other Australians from the same scam.