- Scam Alert
- Impersonation Scam
- Western Australia
- Local Council
- Phone Scam
The City of Belmont confirmed two residents received phone calls from scammers posing as council staff requesting personal details in April 2026.
City of Belmont Confirms Survey Impersonation Calls in April 2026
The City of Belmont in Western Australia has issued a public warning after two residents reported phone calls from a person claiming to conduct an official council survey while requesting personal details. Reporting from PerthNow indicates both residents ended the calls and contacted the council to verify the legitimacy of the request, prompting the local government to confirm it is not running any phone surveys at present.
Belmont CEO John Christie said the residents had acted correctly by hanging up and checking with the council before sharing any information. The council has asked anyone receiving similar contact to call its main office to verify the source before responding.
What the Reports Describe
According to the council notice referenced in PerthNow, the caller posed as a representative carrying out a community survey on behalf of the City of Belmont. The conversation reportedly steered toward personal information rather than typical survey content. Residents were asked to provide details that could include contact information, financial information, or online account credentials, although the council stopped short of publishing the exact data points sought.
Belmont officials emphasised that all genuine consultations and surveys run by the council are listed on its website, giving residents a single reference point to confirm whether any phone outreach is legitimate. The council has not attributed the calls to a specific number or organisation, and the WA Police Force confirmed on Tuesday it had no formal complaints linked to this particular scam.
Pattern and Context Across Australian Local Government Scams
Impersonation of local councils sits within a broader trend of scammers borrowing the credibility of trusted Australian institutions. Community reports across Reverseau and other channels have previously documented callers claiming to represent the Australian Taxation Office, Services Australia, myGov, and Australia Post. Local councils are a relatively newer target, but the tactic follows the same pattern: a familiar name, an apparently routine request, and a gradual escalation toward personal data.
Western Australia has seen recurring scam activity reported through WA ScamNet, the Consumer Protection WA arm that tracks scam reports across the state. Survey-based pretexts are particularly effective because they sound benign, can be framed as community engagement, and rarely trigger the immediate suspicion attached to calls demanding payments or threatening legal action. The Belmont episode shows that even low call volumes can extract sensitive details if the caller sounds authoritative.
What Belmont and Other Australian Residents Should Do
The council and police guidance referenced in PerthNow points to a consistent set of practical steps:
- Do not share personal details on inbound calls. Banking information, passwords, one-time codes, and identity documents should never be provided to a caller you did not initiate contact with.
- Hang up and verify independently. If a caller claims to be from a council, agency, or business, end the call and dial the number listed on the official website.
- Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A legitimate caller will usually leave a message; many scam operations will not.
- Limit information in your voicemail greeting. Avoid stating your full name, address, or daily schedule.
- Block repeat suspicious numbers using your handset's built-in blocking function.
- Check the council's website to confirm whether any genuine survey is underway before engaging.
How to Report Suspicious Numbers and Check Caller History
Australians who receive a suspected impersonation call have several reporting paths. WA ScamNet, operated by Consumer Protection WA, is the primary state-based reporting channel and can be reached through wa.gov.au. Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre, tracks national scam patterns and accepts reports at scamwatch.gov.au. SMS-based scams can also be forwarded to 0429 999 888 for ACMA processing. Anyone whose identity may have been compromised can contact IDCARE for support, and Crime Stoppers handles reports of broader criminal activity.
Before returning a call from an unfamiliar number, residents can search the number on Reverseau to review community reports submitted by other contributors. Reports regularly flag impersonation patterns, recurring scripts, and the agencies most often spoofed, which can help identify a scam before any details are shared. If you have already received a call matching the Belmont survey description, adding a community report helps other contributors recognise the pattern early.