Executive Summary
Based on community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-30 April 2023. Classifications and patterns below come directly from what people reported.
Contributors submitted 299 reports across 190 distinct numbers in South Australia - a notable decrease of 47% compared to March 2023.
The leading classification was Scam at 39%.
Most reports came from Adelaide, followed by Maitland and Wandearah East.
SA's 39% scam rate tracked close to the national average of 40%.
Uncertain and Spam actually outpaced scam this month, making the overall classification mix broader than usual. The SA data dashboard has up-to-date numbers and classifications.
Classification Breakdown
How people in SA classified the numbers they reported this month.
Scam led at 39% in April 2023, compared to 44% the month before.
Top Reporting Areas
Areas in South Australia with the most reports this month.
Adelaide generated 273 reports - more than double Maitland's 14. See the area pages above or the SA data dashboard for full breakdowns.
Month-to-Month Comparison
Compared to March 2023, South Australia saw a notable decrease of 47% in report volume.
Seasonal Context
The 47% drop in April is substantial. This often follows a particularly active prior month - elevated periods tend to revert.
Notable Changes
Scam accounted for 39% of classified reports in April.
Even with the 47% drop statewide, Adelaide still logged 273 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
10 numbers in SA picked up multiple reports in a short period this month, which typically indicates active call campaigns.
Flagged numbers averaged 6 reports each, meaning multiple people encountered them independently.
Reports on these numbers came from multiple areas across SA, which points to automated dialling rather than calls targeting a single region.
Mixed Classifications
Some numbers got both scam and non-scam reports during April 2023. 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 March 2023 - did they continue or go quiet?
Safety Tips
- Don't call back unknown 08 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 South Australia.
- Look up numbers on Reverseau before calling back.
How We Compiled This
Built from community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-30 April 2023. All data is aggregated and anonymised.
- Source: First-hand reports from the community.
- Scope: Numbers allocated to South Australia (SA).
- Period: 1-30 April 2023.
- 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 SA data dashboard.