The National Anti-Scam Centre has issued a warning after scammers began impersonating Australian Competition and Consumer Commission phone numbers to steal personal information from unsuspecting consumers.

Scammers are using publicly available ACCC phone numbers listed on the agency’s official website through a technique called “spoofing,” which disguises their actual phone numbers to appear as legitimate government calls.

The ACCC emphasises it does not make outbound calls from its reception numbers.

“Spoofing is when scammers disguise their phone number to make it look like they’re calling from a trusted organisation, including government agencies like the ACCC, to deceive people into answering and sharing personal information,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe.

Reported cases include scammers claiming to be ACCC representatives requesting sensitive information over the phone.

Other instances involved misusing the ACCC acronym to impersonate unrelated organisations, with some conversations conducted in languages other than English.

The ACCC stressed it never makes unsolicited calls or emails requesting personal information such as passwords, bank details, or security question answers.

The agency provides free services and would never threaten or pressure individuals to remain on phone calls.

“If a call or message feels off, trust your instincts and hang up,” Lowe advised.

“It’s safer to end the call and check in directly with us.”

The National Anti-Scam Centre recommends a three-step approach: STOP before providing money or personal information when uncertain, CHECK by independently verifying contact details, and PROTECT by acting quickly if something feels wrong.

Citizens should be extremely wary of urgent requests demanding immediate action, and never provide personal information when unsure.

The centre advises against clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious messages.

Australians who lose money should contact their banks immediately, while those who provided personal information should call IDCARE on 1800 595 160.

All scam encounters should be reported to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, with additional in-app reporting recommended for messaging platform contacts.

“We encourage all Australians to report scams; every report helps us track patterns and protect others,” Lowe said.

If individuals receive calls claiming to be from the ACCC requesting personal information, they should hang up and contact the agency directly using independently sourced contact information to verify the call’s legitimacy.

The warning highlights the sophistication of modern scamming techniques and the importance of verification when receiving unexpected calls from government agencies or trusted organisations.