Unsolicited Calls Australia 2025: Financial Protection & Scam Prevention

If your mobile buzzes with unknown numbers more often than your group chat, you’re not alone. In 2025, unsolicited calls—ranging from aggressive telemarketing to outright scams—are once again surging across Australia, targeting both everyday consumers and small business owners. But with new tech tools and fresh regulations, you can fight back against nuisance calls and protect your money, time, and sanity.

The State of Unsolicited Calls in 2025

After a brief lull during the pandemic, unsolicited calls have rebounded, fuelled by advances in AI-powered robocalling and cheap overseas calling services. According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), reports of scam and nuisance calls jumped by 18% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, with financial scams leading the pack.

• Common types: Investment scams, fake government calls, energy provider switches, and aggressive insurance sales.

• Hot targets: Seniors, new migrants, small business owners, and anyone with a public-facing phone number.

• Emerging trend: AI voice cloning makes scam calls harder to spot—scammers can now imitate voices of known brands or even your contacts.

As scammers get smarter, Australian regulators and telcos are stepping up their game—but so must consumers.

New Rules and Protections: What’s Changed in 2025?

This year brought a raft of policy changes to help Australians combat unsolicited calls. Here’s what you need to know:

• ACMA’s 2025 Code Update: Telcos are now required to block known scam numbers at the network level. Major carriers like Telstra and Optus rolled out AI-powered call screening, automatically flagging suspicious calls to customers.

• Do Not Call Register Revamp: The national Do Not Call Register has been upgraded. Now, numbers stay registered indefinitely (no need to re-register every eight years), and telemarketers face higher penalties for breaches—up to $2.5 million per offence.

• Mandatory Caller ID: From July 2025, all telemarketing and fundraising calls must display a registered Australian caller ID. Calls from blocked or spoofed numbers can be reported for investigation, and penalties for masking caller IDs have doubled.

• Real-world result: In March, a major scam ring impersonating the ATO was busted after multiple flagged calls led to an ACMA investigation, saving Australians an estimated $3.2 million in potential losses.

Smart Strategies to Stop Unsolicited Calls

Even with new protections, vigilance is key. Here’s how to minimise nuisance calls and safeguard your financial information:

• Register and Update: Put your numbers on the Do Not Call Register (donotcall.gov.au) and update details if you change providers or numbers.

• Use Call-Blocking Apps: Most smartphones and carriers now offer built-in call screening. Third-party apps like Hiya and Truecaller are also available in Australia for extra filtering.

• Never Share Personal Info: If you didn’t initiate the call, never give out your name, address, banking, or Medicare details—no matter how convincing the caller sounds.

• Hang Up, Then Verify: If a caller claims to be from your bank or a government agency, hang up and call back on their official published number.

• Report Suspicious Calls: Use the ACMA’s online reporting tool or your bank’s fraud hotline. Timely reports help authorities shut down scam operations faster.

Tip: If you’re a business owner, consider using a virtual receptionist or call screening service to weed out time-wasting calls before they reach your team.

Looking Ahead: Will Unsolicited Calls Ever Go Away?

While new rules and smarter tech are making a dent, experts agree that unsolicited calls will remain an ongoing risk as scammers adapt. However, Australians are better equipped than ever to spot, stop, and report unwanted calls.

Staying informed and proactive is your best defence. With 2025’s reforms, the balance of power is swinging back towards consumers—but only if you use the tools and protections at your disposal.