Executive Summary
Based on community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-31 August 2020. Classifications and patterns below come directly from what people reported.
Contributors submitted 59 reports across 43 distinct numbers in Queensland - a slight decrease of 19% compared to July 2020.
The leading classification was Spam at 27%.
Most reports came from Brisbane, followed by Southport and Ipswich.
QLD's 22% scam rate sat 16 points below the national average of 38%.
Spam and Uncertain actually outpaced scam this month, making the overall classification mix broader than usual. The QLD data dashboard has up-to-date numbers and classifications.
Classification Breakdown
How people in QLD classified the numbers they reported this month.
Spam led at 27% in August 2020, compared to 26% the month before.
Top Reporting Areas
Areas in Queensland with the most reports this month.
Brisbane generated 51 reports - more than double Southport's 4. See the area pages above or the QLD data dashboard for full breakdowns.
Month-to-Month Comparison
Compared to July 2020, Queensland saw a slight decrease of 19% in report volume.
Seasonal Context
August dipped 19% from the prior month. Small drops typically reflect a quieter campaign cycle rather than any reduction in scam activity overall.
Notable Changes
Spam made up 27% of classified reports in August, with scam at 22%.
Even with the 19% drop statewide, Brisbane still logged 51 reports - the decline was spread across most areas.
Trends & Observations
Several numbers collected reports in a short time frame and were quickly classified as scam by contributors.
Numbers Picking Up Reports Quickly
3 numbers in QLD picked up multiple reports in a short period this month, which typically indicates active call campaigns.
Flagged numbers averaged 5 reports each, suggesting these campaigns are still in early stages.
Reports on these numbers came from multiple areas across QLD, which points to automated dialling rather than calls targeting a single region.
Mixed Classifications
Some numbers got both scam and non-scam reports during August 2020. This can happen when a legitimate number is being spoofed, when a business number starts getting used for something else, or when people simply aren't sure what the call was about. These are worth keeping an eye on.
Previous Month's Flagged Numbers
Numbers that were trending in July 2020 - did they continue or go quiet?
Safety Tips
- Don't call back unknown 07 numbers without checking them first.
- The ATO, Centrelink, and Medicare won't threaten you over the phone. If someone claims to be from a government agency, hang up and call the official number yourself.
- Don't tap payment or delivery links in texts from numbers you don't recognise.
- Got a suspicious call? Report it - every report helps other people in Queensland.
- Look up numbers on Reverseau before calling back.
How We Compiled This
Built from community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-31 August 2020. All data is aggregated and anonymised.
- Source: First-hand reports from the community.
- Scope: Numbers allocated to Queensland (QLD).
- Period: 1-31 August 2020.
- Classifications: Chosen by the person who reported the number.
- Limitations: This is what people reported, not verified telecom records. Volume depends on how many people use the platform.
More detail on our methodology page. Full dataset on the QLD data dashboard.