Authorities are predicting phone scams will leave Australians a record $500 million out of pocket this year alone, prompting the Federal Government to announce a crackdown.

Key points: The communications authority launched a review into phone scams 18 months ago

The communications authority launched a review into phone scams 18 months ago The first of three recommended trials into combating phone scams has already been launched

The first of three recommended trials into combating phone scams has already been launched Telcos have backed the trials and are creating an enforceable industry code to fight scammers

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says phone scams have been growing in prevalence since it launched a review 18 months ago into how to better combat the problem.

Scam phone calls can involve scammers purporting to be from a well-known organisation like the Australian Taxation Office or the National Broadband Network and are aimed at deceiving people into handing over their information or paying money.

Another common technique, known as the "wangiri" method, which in Japanese means "one ring and cut", involves a scammer calling and immediately hanging up. Those who call the number back are charged an expensive premium call rate.

Victims are tricked into handing over money, sometimes losing their live savings to scammers. ( Unsplash: Jim Reardan )

Professor David Lacey from the charity IDCARE, which supports victims of cyber and identity crime, said scam calls could have "devastating" effects on Australians.

"They're convinced to provide remote access to their device because there might be a scam impersonating a bank saying their email or account's been hacked," Professor Lacey said.

"We've had people lose their life savings over those scams and they're incredibly life-changing events."

Regulator recommends three 'scam-busting' trials

ACMA has now recommended the roll out of three trials.

The first will use a "do not originate" list which compiles a list of numbers scammers use when they try to disguise their calls as if they're coming from trusted organisations.

The second trial will look at whether telecommunications companies can identify and block wangiri-style calls.

The third will try to pinpoint overseas phone numbers being used for scams.

Federal Communications and Cyber Safety Minister Paul Fletcher said the first trial was now underway, and the Government would start the two other trials early next year.

"This has been a growing problem, with scammers using the phone numbers of organisations like the Australian Tax Office and the National Broadband Network, so the telcos will be trialling measures to block this," Mr Fletcher said.

"This is the Australian Communications and Media Authority working with the telecommunications industry to try and block these scams, which have caused real problems and inconvenience for quite a number of Australians."

Mr Fletcher said phone scammers were impersonating the ATO and the NBN to target victims. ( ABC News )

'It's hard to be anything but reactive'

But ACMA Scam Project chairwoman Fiona Cameron admitted regulators and telcos are limited in what they can do to prevent scam calls from overseas as they happen.

"It is hard to be anything but reactive when they come internationally and when you can't identify where they're coming from," Ms Cameron said.

"But there are patterns and ways of identifying scam activity. So there is no silver bullet, but there are certainly ways to block and verify calls.

"We can't rest on our laurels and we do have to actually bust a few scams as we go."

Scammers are becoming smarter about how to trick victims, the Communications Alliance's chief executive says. ( Supplied: Australian Tax Office )

Telcos have backed the Government's crackdown, with the peak industry body Communications Alliance saying it is "comfortable with the way the plan's been put together".

The Alliance's chief executive, John Stanton, said phone scammers were increasingly becoming more agile and resourceful.

"It's very often the case that if you shut down or disrupt scammers, they're very good at resurfacing quickly in another place and resuming their activities," Mr Stanton said.

"So it's never a battle you'll win 100 per cent. It's about trying to minimise the risk and trying to make it as difficult as possible for scammers.

"We're creating an industry code as well, that will be a registered and enforceable code that will enshrine some of the improvements around detection, analysis, coordination and blocking of numbers, so there are independent industry efforts going on at the same time."