Executive Summary
This report analyses community-submitted telecommunications safety data across Australian Capital Territory between 1–31 October 2025. All classifications, trend observations, and regional patterns are derived from first-hand community intelligence aggregated through the Reverseau platform.
Australian Capital Territory recorded 69 community reports across 54 unique phone numbers during the reporting period. Compared to September 2025, reporting volume showed a significant increase of 21%, while 54 numbers remained under active community monitoring throughout the month.
Suspicious remains the most frequently assigned community classification at 32% of categorised reports, with a scam classification ratio of 30% across all submissions. A classification shift was observed: Suspicious displaced Scam as the dominant category, which may indicate a transition in active campaign strategies or a change in community reporting behaviour.
Geographically, reporting activity was concentrated in Canberra, followed by Uriarra Forest and Paddys River. Canberra recorded more than double the reporting volume of the next most active locality (Uriarra Forest), indicating concentrated campaign activity or higher community engagement within this area.
October sees continued growth in delivery-related scam campaigns. Early holiday shopping scams and prize/lottery fraud typically increase during this period.
Scam classifications account for 30% of reports, suggesting a mixed telecommunications activity landscape where non-scam reporting categories play a significant role in the overall safety picture. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious telecommunications activity and consult the ACT data dashboard for real-time classification and trend data.
Why This Matters
While scam classifications represent a smaller share of overall reporting at 30%, the diversity of classification categories observed across Australian Capital Territory underscores the importance of community-driven monitoring. Telecommunications safety extends beyond scam detection — nuisance, telemarketing, and unknown classifications each contribute to a more complete picture of how phone numbers interact with the community. Continued reporting across all categories strengthens the analytical foundation that powers early detection and trend visibility.
Scam Category Breakdown
Community classification distribution across ACT for the period 1–31 October 2025. Classifications are assigned by reporting users based on their direct experience with each number.
Suspicious accounted for 32% of categorised reports during October 2025. In September 2025, Scam held the top position with 33% of classifications. A classification shift was observed: Suspicious displaced Scam as the dominant category, which may indicate a transition in active campaign strategies or a change in community reporting behaviour.
Most Affected Areas in Australian Capital Territory
Localities with the highest concentration of community reports during 1–31 October 2025. Each locality links to its dedicated intelligence page with full classification breakdowns and number listings.
Canberra recorded more than double the reporting volume of the next most active locality (Uriarra Forest), indicating concentrated campaign activity or higher community engagement within this area. For detailed locality-level analysis, visit the individual area pages linked above or explore the ACT data dashboard.
Month-to-Month Comparison
Compared to September 2025, Australian Capital Territory experienced a significant increase of 21% in community reporting volume. Overall activity has increased, with moderate monitoring coverage across the state.
Seasonal Context
October sees continued growth in delivery-related scam campaigns. Early holiday shopping scams and prize/lottery fraud typically increase during this period. The observed increase of 21% aligns with typical post-seasonal campaign escalation, where scam operators increase targeting activity in response to changing consumer behaviour patterns.
Classification Movement
Suspicious classifications accounted for 32% of categorised reports in October, with scam-specific reports representing 30% of all submissions. These shifts in community classification patterns may reflect evolving campaign tactics, changes in the types of numbers being reported, or natural variation in reporting behaviour between periods. Monitoring classification movement over consecutive months provides a more reliable indicator of genuine trend shifts than any single-month comparison.
Regional Variation
Despite the overall increase in reporting volume, Canberra remained the primary reporting hub. Elevated reporting in Canberra may reflect both population density effects and localised campaign activity rather than a uniform state-wide increase.
Service Type Distribution
Local Service numbers account for 100% of reported activity, reflecting the broader national pattern where mobile-originated calls dominate community safety reports. Residents should exercise particular caution with unsolicited calls from unfamiliar local service numbers.
Emerging Trends & Observations
Several numbers exhibited accelerated reporting velocity within compressed time windows, followed by classification convergence toward scam designation.
Rapid Accumulation Signals
3 numbers within ACT accumulated multiple community reports within a compressed time window during 1–31 October 2025. This velocity pattern is consistent with active call campaigns or coordinated targeting activity. Numbers exhibiting rapid report accumulation frequently transition from initial “Unknown” or “Suspicious” classifications to confirmed “Scam” designation within days.
Flagged numbers averaged 4 reports each, consistent with early-stage campaign detection where community awareness is still building.
Several flagged numbers exhibited cross-locality reporting dispersion, with community submissions originating from multiple areas within ACT. This pattern suggests broadcast-style outbound activity rather than localised outreach, consistent with automated dialling campaigns that target numbers across geographic boundaries.
Divergent Classification Signals
Several numbers display mixed community classifications — receiving both scam and non-scam reports during October 2025. This divergence may indicate numbers transitioning between legitimate and illegitimate use, caller ID spoofing of legitimate business numbers, or community uncertainty about the nature of calls received. Numbers with divergent classifications warrant continued monitoring as community consensus develops.
Community Safety Guidance
- Do not return missed calls from unknown 02 numbers without verification.
- Verify any government agency claims through official websites or published contact numbers — the ATO, Centrelink, and Medicare will never threaten immediate action via phone.
- Avoid clicking payment or delivery links received via SMS from unrecognised senders.
- Report suspicious telecommunications activity to help build community safety intelligence for Australian Capital Territory.
- Check numbers on Reverseau before returning calls from unknown sources.
Data Methodology
This report is compiled from community-submitted telecommunications safety reports for the period 1–31 October 2025. All data is aggregated and anonymised before publication.
- Source: First-hand community reports submitted via Reverseau.
- Scope: Numbers with a registered allocation within Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
- Period: 1–31 October 2025 (calendar month).
- Classifications: Assigned by reporting users based on their direct experience.
- Limitations: Data reflects community perception, not verified telecommunications records. Reporting volumes are influenced by platform adoption and user engagement patterns.
For detailed methodology, see our methodology page. For the full analytical dataset, visit the ACT data dashboard.