Lyla Lindsey
If you want to keep your personal information private and away from public directories, you can choose to unlist your phone number. By doing so, your name, address, and phone number will not be available in printed, online, or voice-assisted public directories. This is different from blocking spam calls, where you can use third-party apps or built-in phone settings to block unwanted calls and identify spam numbers. This article will focus on the steps to unlist your phone number in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unlisted number | Your name, address and phone number details will not be included in printed, online and voice-assisted public directories |
| Listed number | Your name, address and phone number details will be available in printed, online and voice-assisted public directories |
| Registering your number | You can register your number as listed or unlisted in printed, online and voice-assisted public directories |
| Caller ID | You can hide your number from outgoing calls by activating caller ID on your service |
| Telemarketing calls | To stop receiving telemarketing calls, you can register your details on the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register |
| Blocking spam calls | You can use Silence Unknown Callers or a third-party app to block spam calls on your iPhone |
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What You'll Learn
Register for the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register
The Australian Government's Do Not Call Register is a secure database where individuals and organisations can register, check or remove their Australian telephone, mobile and fax numbers to opt out of receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls and marketing faxes. The register is managed by the Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) and is designed to protect your landline, mobile and fax numbers from unwanted calls.
To register your number, you can visit the official Do Not Call Register website and complete the online registration form. You can also call the Do Not Call Register contact centre on 1300 792 958 from Monday to Friday, between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm. Registration is free, and you do not need to re-register your number if it has already been registered. It is important to note that registering your number will not prevent you from receiving scam calls or SMS marketing. If you wish to lodge a complaint about the receipt of spam, you can visit the ACMA's website.
Once your number is registered, telemarketers and fax marketers are required by law to stop contacting you within 30 days. However, there are some exempt organisations that may still contact you, including registered charities, research companies, registered political parties, and educational institutions. These organisations must still follow the rules that protect consumers from unsolicited telemarketing. If you continue to receive unsolicited telemarketing calls or faxes after registering, you can report the breach to the ACMA.
The Do Not Call Register legislation applies not only to companies within Australia but also to overseas businesses that are making calls or sending faxes to Australian numbers. By registering, you can reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls and marketing faxes you receive, but it is important to remain vigilant against scammers pretending to be from well-known companies or government agencies. Protect yourself by hanging up on suspicious calls and verifying the identity of the caller by calling back on a verified number.
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Change your number with your phone provider
Changing your phone number with your provider is a straightforward process in Australia. The first step is to decide whether you want to keep your current number or get a new one. If you're changing providers, you can usually keep your existing phone number. This is known as 'porting' or 'transferring' your number. Your new provider will need to confirm that you have legitimate access to your current mobile service, which is a standard pre-port verification (PPV) authentication process to protect you and limit fraud.
If you're staying with your current provider, you can request a new number from them. This may be due to a change in personal circumstances, or because you want a 'premium' number with a memorable or auspicious combination of digits. Some providers offer 'golden' or gold numbers, which are rare and easy to remember, and can be purchased for a fee.
If you're switching providers and want to keep your current number, you can transfer it over to your new provider. Telstra, for example, offers this service, and will provide you with a new SIM card with your old number. You will need to provide personal information to complete the transfer, and your old service will be automatically disconnected once the transfer is complete.
If you're changing your number due to unwelcome calls or text messages, Vodafone Australia, for example, offers a special silver or gold number for an additional one-off charge.
It's important to note that you should ensure you're out of contract with your current provider, as early termination fees may apply. Additionally, if you haven't finished paying off your phone, you'll need to pay out its remaining value.
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Hide your number from outgoing calls
If you want to hide your phone number from outgoing calls, there are a few methods you can use. One way is to activate caller ID on your service, which will prevent your number from appearing on the recipient's phone when you call. This can be done by contacting your service provider and requesting that they hide your number. There may be a small monthly fee for this service.
Another way to hide your number from outgoing calls is to dial a specific code before the number you are calling. In Australia, you can dial #31# followed by the number you wish to call, and your number will be blocked from the recipient's caller ID. This method works for both mobile phones and landlines. For example, if you want to call the number 0123 456 789 without displaying your caller ID, simply dial #31#0123 456 789.
If you have an iPhone, you can hide your number from outgoing calls by adjusting your settings. Go to "Show My Caller ID" and switch the toggle to the off position. On Android devices, a similar process can be followed by going to the settings and turning off the "Show My Caller ID" option.
It's worth noting that while these methods will hide your number from the recipient's caller ID, your phone company will still have a record of the calls you make. Additionally, if you are concerned about receiving unwanted calls, you can register your number on the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register.
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Use a third-party app to block spam calls
If you're tired of spam calls, you can use a third-party app to block them. These apps are one of the best ways to prevent telemarketers, robocallers, and even pesky political campaigns from reaching you on your smartphone.
For iPhone users, you can download a third-party app from the App Store that detects and blocks spam phone calls. You can then go to Settings > Apps > Phone. Tap Call Blocking & Identification. From there, you can turn the app on or off and reorder apps based on priority.
Android users can also download third-party apps to block spam calls. Additionally, some Android devices let you block all unknown callers. Typically, you open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and select Settings. On a Samsung device running Android 14, you can enable Block numbers and Block calls from unknown numbers. On a Pixel device running Android 15, go to Blocked numbers and turn on Unknown.
There are several third-party apps available for both iPhone and Android users, including:
- RoboKiller: This app automatically blocks numbers after flagging them as spam and sends them to "Answer Bots," which play prerecorded messages to trick telemarketers.
- TrueCaller: One of the largest and most-used spam-blocking apps in the world, with a free subscription tier.
- Robo Shield: Combines an array of phone security features to create a holistic spam-blocking and phone security approach.
- Hiya: This app uses your device's location to avoid blocking local businesses that may call you.
- ActiveArmor: A free app for AT&T customers that filters out potential fraud and spam calls, sending unknown callers to voicemail.
- Aura: An all-in-one safety solution that provides identity and credit protection, digital security tools, and U.S.-based support.
Before downloading a third-party app, be sure to review its privacy policy so you know exactly what you're signing up for. Some apps may also have additional costs for more advanced features.
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Remove your number from the Truecaller app
Truecaller is a global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication. If you want to remove your number from the Truecaller app, you can do so by following these steps:
Deactivating your Truecaller account
Firstly, you need to deactivate your Truecaller account. To do this, open the Truecaller app and tap on the profile avatar in the upper-left corner. Then, navigate to Settings > Privacy Center. Here, you will find the option to deactivate your account. It's important to note that it may take up to 24 hours for your information to be completely deleted from their system.
Unlisting your phone number
Once you have deactivated your account, go to the Truecaller unlisting page at www.truecaller.com/unlisting/. On this page, enter the phone number that you wish to remove. Your number will then be unlisted from the Truecaller database. Please note that it may take some time for the changes to take effect, and your number may still be searchable for a short period due to caching processes.
Clearing history and cache
If your number is still searchable after unlisting, it may be stored locally on the phone you previously searched on. To resolve this, clear the history or cache on that device. This should ensure that your number is no longer associated with Truecaller.
Alternative methods
In addition to removing your number from Truecaller, you may also want to explore other methods to increase your phone privacy. For example, you can choose to register your phone number as unlisted in public directories, which will keep your details confidential. Additionally, you can register your number on the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register to reduce telemarketing calls. However, it's important to note that registered numbers can still receive calls from certain exempt organisations, such as charities and educational institutions.
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Frequently asked questions
You can choose to register your phone number as unlisted in printed, online, and voice-assisted public directories. This means your details will not be included in these directories and will be kept private. You can also activate caller ID to hide your number from outgoing calls.
You can register your number on the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register. Note that even if your number is on this register, you may still receive calls from exempt organisations such as registered charities, research companies, registered political parties, and educational institutions.
With iOS 13 and later, you can turn on Silence Unknown Callers to avoid getting calls from people you don't know. You can also use third-party apps to block spam calls on your iPhone.
You can download third-party apps to block spam calls. These apps will compare an incoming call to a list of phone numbers in their database and block or label it as spam if it's a match.
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