WA Community Safety Intelligence - December 2024

What WA residents reported between 1-31 December 2024 - classifications, regional patterns, and numbers to watch.

Executive Summary

Based on community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-31 December 2024. Classifications and patterns below come directly from what people reported.

Contributors submitted 262 reports across 177 distinct numbers in Western Australia - a notable decrease of 29% compared to November 2024.

The leading classification was Uncertain at 35%.

Most reports came from Perth, followed by Spearwood and Albany.

WA's 11% scam rate sat 15 points below the national average of 26%.

Uncertain and Spam actually outpaced scam this month, making the overall classification mix broader than usual. The WA data dashboard has up-to-date numbers and classifications.

Community Reports
262
vs November 2024 -29%
Unique Numbers Reported
177
Scam Rate
11%
National avg: 26% ↓ 15pp below

Classification Breakdown

How people in WA classified the numbers they reported this month.

Uncertain35%
Spam21%
Suspicious14%
Nuisance13%
Scam11%
Legitimate5%
262
reports

Uncertain led at 35% in December 2024, compared to 29% the month before.

Top Reporting Areas

Areas in Western Australia with the most reports this month.

Perth generated 158 reports - more than double Spearwood's 25. See the area pages above or the WA data dashboard for full breakdowns.

Month-to-Month Comparison

Compared to November 2024, Western Australia saw a notable decrease of 29% in report volume.

November 2024
369
December 2024
262
Change
-29%

Seasonal Context

The 29% drop in December is substantial. This often follows a particularly active prior month - elevated periods tend to revert.

Notable Changes

Uncertain made up 35% of classified reports in December, with scam at 11%.

Even with the 29% drop statewide, Perth still logged 158 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 WA picked up multiple reports in a short period this month, which typically indicates active call campaigns.

Flagged numbers averaged 5 reports each, meaning multiple people encountered them independently.

Reports on these numbers came from multiple areas across WA, which points to automated dialling rather than calls targeting a single region.

Mixed Classifications

Some numbers got both scam and non-scam reports during December 2024. 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 November 2024 - did they continue or go quiet?

NumberNovember 2024December 2024Status
(08) 6170 9681 16 reports 5 reports Active
(08) 6170 9676 8 reports 0 reports Inactive
(08) 6385 8822 7 reports 0 reports Inactive
(08) 6385 8823 5 reports 0 reports Inactive
(08) 9468 0421 5 reports 2 reports Active

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 Western Australia.
  • Look up numbers on Reverseau before calling back.

How We Compiled This

Built from community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-31 December 2024. All data is aggregated and anonymised.

  • Source: First-hand reports from the community.
  • Scope: Numbers allocated to Western Australia (WA).
  • Period: 1-31 December 2024.
  • 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 WA data dashboard.