The Callback Con: How Scammers Are Tricking Us into Dialing Them

Told that as long as you hang up on cold callers and never answer suspicious phone numbers, you’re safe from cybercriminals? Think again! In this episode, we uncover a massive surge in a cunning new cyber threat: callback scams. In this episode, we break down how cybercriminals manipulate you into picking up the phone and calling them yourself, with insights from Telstra cybersecurity expert Darren Pauli. The Dramatic Surge: How callback scams have jumped from 29% of reported email-based scams in 2025 to a staggering 45% so far in 2026. The Inversion Tactic: Why scammers now use fake alerts to create panic, prompting you to willingly dial a number they control. Common Pretexts: The use of urgent warnings regarding fake failed transactions, billing issues, or compromised accounts to trick consumers. The Illusion of Control: How making the call yourself makes victims feel proactive, causing them to dangerously lower their guard. The Golden Rule of Defense: Why you must never trust the number in an alert message and should always independently look up official contact details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.