Executive Summary
Based on community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-30 September 2022. Classifications and patterns below come directly from what people reported.
Contributors submitted 198 reports across 151 distinct numbers in South Australia - a notable decrease of 32% compared to August 2022.
The leading classification was Uncertain at 28%.
Most reports came from Adelaide, followed by Bunbury and Mclaren Vale.
SA's 25% scam rate sat 8 points below the national average of 33%.
Uncertain and Suspicious 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.
Uncertain led at 28% in September 2022, compared to Scam at 29% the month before.
Top Reporting Areas
Areas in South Australia with the most reports this month.
Adelaide generated 171 reports - more than double Bunbury's 4. See the area pages above or the SA data dashboard for full breakdowns.
Month-to-Month Comparison
Compared to August 2022, South Australia saw a notable decrease of 32% in report volume.
Seasonal Context
The 32% drop in September is substantial. This often follows a particularly active prior month - elevated periods tend to revert.
Notable Changes
Uncertain made up 28% of classified reports in September, with scam at 25%.
Even with the 32% drop statewide, Adelaide still logged 171 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 4 reports each, suggesting these campaigns are still in early stages.
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 September 2022. 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 August 2022 - 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 September 2022. All data is aggregated and anonymised.
- Source: First-hand reports from the community.
- Scope: Numbers allocated to South Australia (SA).
- Period: 1-30 September 2022.
- 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.