Make your phone number more private

There are ways to make your phone number more private. Telcos are responsible for keeping your phone number private.

If you think your telco has wrongly disclosed your phone number, complain to them first. 

If they do not resolve your issue, contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. 

A silent phone number (also known as an unlisted number) does not show up:

• in print or electronic phone directories
• in operator-assisted directory services, such as 1223
• on the phone you call (except when calling some telcos, or when dialling emergency service numbers such as 000 and 112)

When you sign up to a telco, you can ask for a silent number.

Some telcos may charge an ongoing fee for a silent number, so shop around to choose a telco.

If you have a silent phone number, it will not show up on the phone you call (except for some telcos and emergency call services).

Your telco automatically blocks your silent number from showing up on a phone you call.

Sometimes you may want your silent number to show on a phone you call. To make your number show up when you call another number, dial 1832 (or *31# from a mobile) first and then the number you want to call.

If you make a call to the Triple Zero (000) emergency call service, your number will always show, even if it is silent. This helps the operator:

• confirm where the emergency is
• contact the nearest emergency service
• ring you back if the call drops out.

Telemarketing calls

You might get telemarketing calls even if you have a silent phone number.

Some telemarketers dial at random or in a pattern to make calls, which means they might get your number.

If you make your number public (for example, if you put your number on a flyer or anywhere online), telemarketers might get your number.

To stop telemarketing calls, register your number on the Do Not Call Register. 

Telemarketers must follow the rules of the register.

Spam or marketing texts

There are steps you can take to stop advertising messages (spam). SMS marketers must follow the spam rules.

Threatening texts or calls

If you get a threatening text or call, first contact the police. Then tell your telco.

When you tell your telco, they must:

• run a trace to find out who threatened you and report that to the police
• help you to stop the person from contacting you.

You can find out more information from your telco. For example, Telstra has information on unwelcome calls.

Calling number display (CND) is also known as caller ID or calling line identification. It is a feature of your phone that shows the number or business name of the person calling you, and for people you call to see your number. Find out more about caller ID and caller identity scams.

How to block your number

You can hide your number from being displayed when you make calls. This is known as CND blocking. 

• To permanently block CND on all calls from your phone, contact your telco.
• To temporarily block caller ID on a call-by-call basis, dial 1831 (or #31# from a mobile) then dial the number you are calling. 

The person you are calling will not see your number (except when calling a telco or emergency service numbers, such as 000 and 112).

Your number will always be displayed and cannot be blocked when sending an SMS (text message) or MMS (photo/video/audio message).

If you have problems with caller ID, complain to your telco.