Executive Summary
Based on community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-31 January 2023. Classifications and patterns below come directly from what people reported.
Contributors submitted 222 reports across 162 distinct numbers in Western Australia - a significant increase of 41% compared to December 2022.
The leading classification was Scam at 26%.
Most reports came from Perth, followed by Fremantle and Mount Helena.
WA's 26% scam rate sat 14 points below the national average of 40%.
Spam and Uncertain actually outpaced scam this month, making the overall classification mix broader than usual. The WA data dashboard has up-to-date numbers and classifications.
Classification Breakdown
How people in WA classified the numbers they reported this month.
Scam led at 26% in January 2023, compared to 29% the month before.
Top Reporting Areas
Areas in Western Australia with the most reports this month.
Perth generated 181 reports - more than double Fremantle's 7. See the area pages above or the WA data dashboard for full breakdowns.
Month-to-Month Comparison
Compared to December 2022, Western Australia saw a significant increase of 41% in report volume.
Seasonal Context
January saw a 41% jump in reports compared to the prior month. Spikes this size usually trace back to one or two high-volume campaigns entering the dataset.
Notable Changes
Scam accounted for 26% of classified reports in January.
Perth (181 reports) and Fremantle (7) remained the busiest areas despite the overall increase.
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, suggesting these campaigns are still in early stages.
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 January 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 December 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 Western Australia.
- Look up numbers on Reverseau before calling back.
How We Compiled This
Built from community reports submitted to Reverseau between 1-31 January 2023. All data is aggregated and anonymised.
- Source: First-hand reports from the community.
- Scope: Numbers allocated to Western Australia (WA).
- Period: 1-31 January 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 WA data dashboard.