Vodafone accuses Aussie Broadband over 24 million scam calls

TPG says 98 per cent of scam calls to its network originated with Symbio, the wholesale carrier owned by Aussie Broadband

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time4 min

Sources2 outlets

Vodafone's parent company TPG Telecom has publicly accused rival Aussie Broadband of failing to stop millions of scam calls, saying 98 per cent of the scam calls detected on its network between July 2025 and July 2026, more than 24 million, came via Symbio, a little-known wholesale carrier owned by Aussie Broadband. TPG's executive Vanessa Hicks called for urgent action to block calls closer to the source, while Aussie Broadband CEO Brian Maher said the company was working to address the problem but needed more data from other telcos.

TPG Telecom analysed scam calls on the Vodafone network over a one-year period and found that the vast majority originated with Symbio, a company that sells Australian phone numbers in bulk to businesses for internet-based calls.

"Every time we see this type of scam campaign we give the evidence and the data to Aussie Broadband for them to investigate and block the bad actors," Vanessa Hicks, executive at TPG Telecom, said. "We want more urgent action to stop this activity closer to the source and stop these calls reaching Australians."

Aussie Broadband CEO Brian Maher acknowledged the challenge, saying Symbio had about 500 customers who on-sell numbers, and each of those customers could resell to thousands of other users. He said that because Symbio had no direct oversight of who its customers were selling to, stopping scammers was difficult.

"Where we find a persistent bad actor, then we will disconnect them," Mr Maher said. He said the company used detection software and a team of more than 20 people to reduce scam calls, with plans to invest further.

"It is unfortunate that they've called us out publicly, but we accept that they're frustrated and we want to work with them to solve the problem," he said.

One victim, Perth-based Ian Odlum, described receiving a call from someone posing as the Australian Federal Police. The caller told him they had seized a laptop containing his personal information and asked him to travel to a police station. Mr Odlum refused and the caller hung up.

Vodafone's fraud team investigated and found police stations in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the AFP had all been impersonated by calls from Symbio's network, with more than 2,400 calls in a single week in September.

The regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), said checks on that particular scam showed regulation was working, with traffic identified, notifications passed upstream and blocking occurring. The ACMA said it did not identify non-compliance by an Australian telco.

Symbio was warned by the ACMA in 2024 for failing to properly investigate scam calls and share information quickly, and was also warned in 2022 over similar issues. Ms Hicks said it was disappointing Symbio had faced no financial penalties.

TPG denied its criticism was motivated by commercial rivalry. "We are bringing this out because we're trying to protect Australians and we're trying to protect our customers," Ms Hicks said.

Independent cybercrime investigator Dan Halpin examined 8,000 scam numbers reported by the public and found Symbio was the top carrier linked to suspect numbers. Mr Halpin said Symbio's business model of selling numbers in bulk appealed to scammers, who could quickly rotate through blocks of numbers.

Optus and Telstra declined to provide specifics when asked if they had experienced high volumes of scam calls traced to Aussie Broadband. Optus said no single carrier consistently accounted for the majority of scam calls.

Australia's Scams Prevention Framework, due to be fully introduced next year, will require telcos to meet strict new obligations to prevent scam calls and could impose penalties of up to $11 million for non-compliance.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The dispute reveals a systemic weakness in Australia's telecom supply chain, where wholesale carriers can become conduits for large-scale scam operations.
With millions of scam calls reaching Australians each year, the lack of accountability and slow response identified by TPG raises questions about existing regulatory enforcement.
The upcoming Scams Prevention Framework will impose stricter obligations and financial penalties, making this case a possible preview of future compliance battles.

Background

Scam calls have been a persistent problem in Australia, with telcos reporting more than 3.12 billion scam calls blocked since December 2020 under a voluntary code. Symbio is a wholesale carrier that provides Australian phone numbers in bulk to businesses for voice-over-internet services. The company has been warned twice by the ACMA, in 2022 and 2024, for failing to properly investigate and trace scam calls. Aussie Broadband acquired Symbio in a deal that expanded its wholesale market share. TPG Telecom is one of Australia's major telecommunications groups, operating the Vodafone mobile network.

Key Perspectives

TPG Telecom (Vodafone): Argues that Aussie Broadband and Symbio are not doing enough to stop scammers at the source. TPG has provided evidence and data repeatedly but says action has been insufficient. It wants faster blocking of scam calls before they reach consumers. Aussie Broadband (Symbio): Acknowledges the problem but says it lacks visibility of its customers' downstream sales. The company has detection systems and a team working on the issue, and says it needs more data sharing from other telcos to be effective. It is investing further but has not disclosed specific staffing increases. ACMA (Regulator): States that existing rules are working in some cases, but has previously found Symbio non-compliant. The regulator is closely monitoring compliance and warns it may take stronger action if problems persist. Victims and consumer advocates: The case of Ian Odlum highlights the sophisticated and convincing nature of current scams. Consumer groups and investigators like Dan Halpin point to the wholesale number supply as a key enabler.

What to Watch

The full introduction of Australia's Scams Prevention Framework next year, which will require telcos to meet stricter know-your-customer and traffic monitoring obligations or face penalties.
Whether the ACMA takes enforcement action against Symbio following TPG's public allegations and the documented scam campaigns.
Any changes in Aussie Broadband's investment in scam detection staff and technology, and whether data sharing between telcos improves.

Sources

Vodafone says 24 million scam calls came via one little-known company · Latest business news
Vodafone says 24 million scam calls came via one little-known company · Just In

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedVodafone accuses Aussie Broadband over more than 24 million scam calls.Latest business news: “Vodafone's owner has accused its rival, Aussie Broadband, of being involved as a carrier in almost all of the scam calls made to its customers in a one-year period.”
Partly supportedTPG says 98 per cent of scam calls to its network originated with Symbio, described as a wholesale carrier owned by Aussie Broadband.Latest business news: “It analysed millions of scam calls on the Vodafone network between July 2025 and July 2026 and found 98 per cent of the calls — more than 24 million — came via little-known internet phone company Symbio. Symbio is owned by Aussie Broadband.”
Partly supportedTPG accused Aussie Broadband of failing to stop millions of scam calls.Latest business news: “Vodafone's owner has accused its rival, Aussie Broadband, of being involved as a carrier in almost all of the scam calls made to its customers in a one-year period.”
SupportedTPG found that 98 per cent of scam calls detected on the Vodafone network between July 2025 and July 2026—more than 24 million—came via Symbio.Latest business news: “It analysed millions of scam calls on the Vodafone network between July 2025 and July 2026 and found 98 per cent of the calls — more than 24 million — came via little-known internet phone company Symbio.”
SupportedVanessa Hicks said TPG gives Aussie Broadband evidence and data to investigate and block bad actors.Latest business news: ““Every time we see this type of scam campaign we give the evidence and the data to Aussie Broadband for them to investigate and block the bad actors,” Vanessa Hicks, executive at Vodafone's parent company TPG Telecom, said.”
SupportedVanessa Hicks said TPG wanted more urgent action to stop the activity closer to the source.Latest business news: ““We want more urgent action to stop this activity closer to the source and stop these calls reaching Australians.””
SupportedBrian Maher said persistent bad actors would be disconnected.Latest business news: ““Where we find a persistent bad actor, then we will disconnect them,” Mr Maher said.”
SupportedBrian Maher said it was unfortunate TPG had called Aussie Broadband out publicly, but the company wanted to work with TPG.Latest business news: ““It is unfortunate that they've called us out publicly, but we accept that they're frustrated and we want to work with them to solve the problem,” he said.”
SupportedVanessa Hicks said TPG was speaking publicly to protect Australians and its customers.Latest business news: ““We are bringing this out because we're trying to protect Australians and we're trying to protect our customers,” Ms Hicks said.”
Partly supportedIan Odlum was told the caller had seized a laptop containing his personal information.Latest business news: “Mr Odlum said the scammers emailed him to “verify” they were from the AFP, then told him they had seized an individual and their laptop, which contained his personal information.”
SupportedVodafone found that more than 2,400 calls impersonating police stations and the AFP came from Symbio's network in one week in September.Latest business news: “Vodafone's fraud team investigated and found police stations in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the AFP had all been impersonated by calls from Symbio's network. “What we've seen in this particular scam is over 2,400 calls, and this was just in a one-week period in September,” Ms Hicks said.”
Partly supportedMaher said Aussie Broadband needed more data from other telcos to address the problem.Latest business news: ““We're working as hard as we can, but we need many more pieces of information to be shared with us to solve the problem, and we're working hard to do that,” he said.”