Report Telemarketing Scams to Sydney Council Bylaws

Business and Consumer Protection New South Wales 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of New South Wales

Sydney residents commonly receive unwanted telemarketing calls and occasional scams. This guide explains how people in Sydney, New South Wales can report telemarketing scams, which agencies handle enforcement, and what municipal steps (if any) a council can take. It summarises the reporting pathways to federal and state regulators, how to preserve evidence, and practical actions you can take immediately to reduce risk and seek remedies. The guidance below is drawn from current official regulator pages and is current as of February 2026.

Keep call records and voicemails as evidence when you report a scam.

Who enforces telemarketing and scams affecting Sydney residents

Telemarketing and scam calls are primarily regulated by federal and state agencies rather than by council bylaws. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) administers the Do Not Call Register and telemarketing rules; you can lodge complaints or check registration status via ACMA's telemarketing resources: ACMA Do Not Call Register[1]. NSW Fair Trading accepts consumer reports and provides advice for people targeted by scams within New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading[2].

Penalties & Enforcement

Specific monetary penalties, escalation steps, and continuing-offence provisions for telemarketing or scam breaches are set out by the enforcing regulator. Where exact penalty amounts or escalation schedules are not listed on the regulator page cited, the text below notes that fact and points to the official contact for further information.

  • Fines and civil penalties: not specified on the cited page; see the ACMA enforcement pages for statutory penalty details and any infringement notices.[1]
  • Escalation for repeat or continuing offences: not specified on the cited page; ACMA and NSW Fair Trading may pursue infringement notices or court action depending on seriousness.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to stop contacting a number, injunctions, directions, or court-enforced orders may be used by regulators; specifics are on agency enforcement pages.[1]
  • Primary enforcers: ACMA (telemarketing/Do Not Call compliance) and NSW Fair Trading (consumer scams and deceptive conduct). Complaints and contact details are on the linked official pages below.[1]
  • Council role: City of Sydney does not generally regulate telemarketing under local bylaws; residents may report local incidents to council customer service for information sharing but enforcement is at state/federal level.
If a specific fine or section is needed for legal action, obtain the regulator's enforcement notice or statutory instrument.

Applications & Forms

How to lodge a report or complaint:

  • ACMA: online complaint form for unsolicited calls and Do Not Call breaches; see ACMA complaint pages for submission method and any required attachments.[1]
  • NSW Fair Trading: online complaint/report form for consumer scams and deceptive conduct; use the NSW Fair Trading online reporting tool or phone contact on the official site.[2]
  • Evidence: collect call logs, timestamps, caller ID, SMS content and recordings where legally permitted; upload files per the regulator's guidance.

Reporting steps and practical actions

Immediate actions to reduce harm and create a complaint file:

  • Stop contact: do not share personal or financial information and block the number.
  • Preserve evidence: save SMS, call records and any voicemails.
  • Report to ACMA and to NSW Fair Trading using their online complaint tools; include your evidence and timeline.[1][2]
  • If you suspect fraud or financial loss, contact your bank immediately and consider reporting to NSW Police or Scamwatch.
Reporting quickly improves the chance regulators can investigate call origins and patterns.

FAQ

Can the City of Sydney fine telemarketers who call me?
No. Telemarketing and scam enforcement is handled by federal and state regulators; the City of Sydney does not typically issue fines for telemarketing under local bylaws.
Which agency do I contact first?
Start with ACMA for Do Not Call Register breaches and NSW Fair Trading for consumer scams in New South Wales; both accept online complaints and provide guidance.
What evidence should I keep?
Keep timestamps, caller ID, SMS content, voicemails and any payment requests; upload copies to the regulator complaint forms.

How-To

  1. Block the number on your phone and do not engage.
  2. Collect and save all call records, voicemails and messages as evidence.
  3. File an online complaint with ACMA via its Do Not Call/complaint page and attach evidence.[1]
  4. Report the scam to NSW Fair Trading via its consumer complaint form and include the same evidence.[2]
  5. If money was lost, contact your bank immediately and report the incident to NSW Police.

Key Takeaways

  • Telemarketing scams for Sydney residents are enforced by ACMA and NSW Fair Trading, not by council bylaws.
  • Preserve call records and submit complaints via official online forms to give regulators the best chance to act.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] ACMA Do Not Call Register and telemarketing complaint pages
  2. [2] NSW Fair Trading official site and consumer reporting

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