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Digital Security and Scam Safety

We're working to keep you safe.

  • Scams
  • Cyber Safety tips
  • How to report scams
  • Leaders' insights

All of us at Optus are working hard to keep you safe. We invest millions of dollars into cybersecurity and digital safety, and have a team of experts that thwart millions of attacks on Optus and potential attacks on our customers. We partner with global leaders in cybersecurity and collaborate with industry to ensure we collectively stay at the cutting edge of protections. Whether you’re an individual, small business or enterprise – we are always working to protect you from criminal cyber-attacks.

Protection and education

We’re working tirelessly to protect our customers and to increase cyber-awareness and education in our communities by:

  • Blocking over 272 million scam SMS messages from July 2022 to March 2026.
  • Blocking more than 649 million scam calls since December 2020.
  • Blocking known bad URLs and having advanced protections available for messages sent from Australian organisations.
  • Reducing SIM swap and fraud losses by over 80% since the introduction of Multi-Factor Authentication across the industry.
  • Investing in the future of cyber protection by partnering with leading educational institutions and industry.
  • Expanding our award-winning Digital Thumbprint Program which supports digital safety and wellbeing for young people and families.

 

Stronger together

We've been sharing our cyber learnings with other Australian corporates, to help ensure as a nation we can be more resilient to attacks by malicious cyber criminals.

young adult woman in a wheelchair on her phone sharing a smile next to a young adult woman on her phone

Educating our Youth

Optus Digital Thumbprint supports digital safety and wellbeing with educational workshops, guides and resources for young people and families. The program is designed to support parents, educators, children and young adults with:

  • Cyber Security
  • Digital Identity
  • Bullying and Respectful Relationships Online
  • Digital Discernment
  • Digital Balance
Learn more

Strengthening system security

We’re collaborating with organisations, industry experts, and ethical hackers in our commitment to provide our customers with even greater protection across our network. We value and support the work undertaken by the security research community and appreciate it when researchers take the time to assist by reporting any findings. 

Report findings
woman holding a baby looking at her phone

Stopping Scams

Optus Call Stop is a new automated call block technology designed to help protect our customers by stopping calls to identified scam numbers.

Learn more

Protected by Optus

Threat Reduction

Multi-Factor Authentication
Call Stop
Industry Partnerships

SMS Protections

SMS Firewall
Traffic Analysis
Trusted Sources Protection

Voice Protections

Voice Firewall
Do Not originate list
Number security

Internet Protections

DNS Blocking
Optus Wifi Secure
Digital Thumbprint

Advice on staying vigilant and protecting yourself against cyber security risks and fraud

Types of scams
Other scams
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Types of scams

Phishing scams

In phishing scams, scammers contact you through emails, SMS, messages, calls, or unreliable websites. They offer deals that sound too good to be true, the latest phone for a fraction of the price or better inclusions, all of which are not listed on optus.com.au.

Beware of malware



Malware is malicious software that hackers use to gain unauthorised access to your computer or device. Malware is often delivered via a link or file in an email or SMS and is activated when you click the link or open the file.

Keep watch for unusual activity

Identity theft is when a hacker accesses your personal information and uses it to create fake identity papers or apply for real ones, they make expensive purchases online and can even take out a loan in your name. Watch out for unusual transactions across your online banking and email accounts like new services being opened or sudden loss of access.

Cyber safety tips and security initiatives

Personal
Business
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Cyber safety tips

Received a message from Optus and want to be sure it's genuine?

  • Is the SMS or email from the usual Optus sender? Click on the sender name to check the email address against previous official communications.
  • Were you contacted via another messaging platform such as WhatsApp or Messenger? Optus will only ever use SMS or email.
  • If you see two letters before the first single slash in a website link, those letters refer to a country where the website is located. A foreign country code could indicate possible fraud.
  • To preview a link on a mobile device, press and hold the link.
  • Is there poor grammar or spelling, or other unusual symbols in the message?
  • Are you being asked to urgently share personal or sensitive information like your date of birth, or address? We do ask for this information on phone calls but never over emails or SMS.
  • Don’t reply to or unsubscribe from spam because that notifies the sender that you have an active email address, which could result in more spam. Send these emails to your spam folder instead.

Unsure of who is calling you?

  • Is the call coming from an "Australian" number or via WhatsApp claiming to be from Optus?
  • Calls from Optus will always be phone calls to your mobile number, never from WhatsApp or other messaging platforms.
  • Optus will always verify your identity using a multi-factor authentication process.
  • Have you been asked for your credit card details, account number, email or passwords? There may be instances where we'll call to verify your identity, but never ask for your bank details (direct debit) or passwords
  • Does the deal being offered to you seem to good to be true?
  • You will only ever be asked to return a device to one of the following addresses:
            DHL Supply Chain - 6 Millner Ave, Horsley Park, NSW 2175
            Assurant c/o Schenker Australia Pty Ltd - 1 Aviation Rd Len Waters Estate, NSW

Improving your mobile security

  • Always use a passcode to protect your mobile devices. This keeps the information and apps more secure.
  • Download apps only from trusted sources. Make sure you check ratings and reviews if they are available and read the app’s privacy policy to see exactly what personal information it will have access to if you download it.
  • Don’t give apps more permissions than they need for their purpose.
  • Keep your operating system and apps updated. You can set you device to do this automatically in settings.
  • Turn off WiFi and Bluetooth when not needed. They announce your presence and are trackable by anyone interested.
  • Delete unused apps from your mobile devices as they may have permission to access your personal information. Here’s how for an iPhone: settings-general-iPhone storage-delete. For an Android: Settings-apps-uninstall.

Removing malware from your phone

Most anti-virus applications for Android will be able to remove the malware from your device. It's good practice to run anti malware apps frequently to ensure your device is safe.

To help remove malware from an Android device, see Uncover harmful apps on an Android device below. There is no method to uncover harmful apps on an Apple device.

Alternatively, you can perform a factory reset on your device.

Important: if you use a backup to get your saved files back, you may also restore the malware. It's recommended to use a backup from a date before receiving the malware message.

More information is available at our Flubot malware support page.

Other ways Optus is helping

Providing products and services that improve device security

Optus WiFi Secure™ is a month-to-month subscription service that protects you and your family from malicious threats while they’re online via a WiFi connection from a compatible Optus supplied modem, using an Optus nbn internet service.
Optus WiFi Secure™ provides security against many online threats such as malicious websites, botnet attacks, and Denial of Service attacks. It helps to make sure all internet traffic passing through the compatible Optus supplied modem to any device connected to your home or business Optus internet network is safe from these threats.

Helping and educating customers

Optus Digital Thumbprint

Optus Digital Thumbprint supports digital safety and wellbeing with educational workshops, guides and resources for young people and families. The program is designed to support parents, educators, children and young adults with:

  • Cyber Security
  • Digital Identity
  • Cyberbullying and Respectful Relationships Online
  • Digital Discernment
  • Digital Balance

Find out more

Report a scam


Optus Account Compromised

If you believe your account has been compromised, you can contact us via My Optus app – which remains the safest way to contact Optus or call us on 133 937 for consumer customers.

If you are a business customer, contact us on 133 343 or your account manager.


Email or SMS Scams

If you think you’ve received a scam, follow one of the below options:

  • For all SMS scams, whether from Optus or another brand, forward your SMS to us via Optus ScamWise in My Optus app. 



    Don’t have My Optus app? Download it here.


  • For email that looks like it’s from Optus, share a screenshot of the suspected scam email with Optus at abuse@optusnet.com.au


Phone Call Scams

  • If you believe you’re receiving scam calls on your Optus mobile or home phone, call us on 133 937 or contact us via My Optus app to report it.



    Don’t have My Optus app? Download it here.

  • For any other type of scam not covered above - you can report them to ACCC’s ScamWatch:
    Report a scam

Other helpful resources

You can find more useful resources on how to better protect your identity below:

ACSC Australian
Security Centre

Relevant info on protecting your devices and safety.

Visit the website

ACSC
ReportCyber

If you are a victim of cyber crime you can report it here.

Visit the website

ACCC's
ScamWatch

News and alerts on types of scams, reporting scams and getting help.

Visit the website

Latest insights from our experts

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More advice on navigating cyber safety

Optus equips regional communities to thrive safely online

8 September 2025

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