It's not typically a journalist's first instinct to hang up the phone on someone who is ringing you about a car accident.

But when you and your colleagues have been bombarded with calls from an unidentifiable number and someone offering compensation for a person involved in that 'crash', it's easy to see why we were sceptical.

After the sixth time they called, I managed to keep them on the phone long enough to hit record.

The woman started reciting her script, similar to what my colleagues heard earlier.

"The person from this number had a car accident," she said without a flinch in her voice.

"Like somebody ran into their car and it was not their fault in that accident, that's why they'd be getting the compensation for their injuries they suffered in that accident."

Loading

I then started to press the woman on what compensation this person would be receiving, and how she found my number to begin with.

"We got the contact number from the Insurance Commission who reported it as a none-faulted car accident," she said.

"Do you know the name of the person in the accident," I asked.

"Mr David Maxwell … we do collaborations with the hospital and all the insurance company [sic] they just forward your contact number and that person is entitled to the compensation," she said.

When I asked about why she and others had called up to six times with similar story lines throughout the day, she began to repeat herself, adding Mr Maxwell wouldn't need to part with a "single penny from his pocket".

"First of all we have to weigh the compensation file for Mr David Maxwell, and after that he will be receiving the paperwork at his doorstep," she explained.

"After that he will be receiving the compensation at his doorstep and he don't [sic] have to pay a single penny from his pocket, whole thing will be at his doorstep and he don't [sic] have to go anywhere."

I later learnt the woman was allegedly from the Gold Coast and went by the name Sophia Maxwell.

"Your name is Sophia Maxwell, like David Maxwell? Your last name is the same as the guy that you're trying to find?" I asked.

"Yep," she answered quickly.

'Claim farming' is an age-old scam

You might be reading this thinking you've had a similar experience. You wouldn't be the only one.

The RACQ says calls like this have been ramping up across Queensland for the past year and it's not money they're chasing, but identity details.

RACQ spokesperson Kirsty Clinton said the scam, known as "claim farming", was being facilitated by criminal organisations who "want to collect personal information and sell it onto lawyers".

RACQ spokesperson Kirsty Clinton said the scam was being facilitated by criminal organisations. ( Supplied: RACQ )

"They're then going to take advantage of you and they stand to make huge amounts of money from these insurance claims," Ms Clinton said.

"They'll try to convince you that you may have a right to a claim, maybe convince you that you have whiplash injury that didn't actually exist and try to convince you to take legal action.

"Our members are telling us they're sometimes getting multiple calls per day. We even had one member tell us this week of getting over a dozen calls in one week."

Ms Clinton has urged anyone receiving these calls to contact their insurance company or seek their own legal representation.

"We've had members telling us that 'it's RACQ calling them' … we're saying, 'no it is not'," she said.

Detective Superintendent Terry Lawrence of Queensland Police Service's Financial and Cyber Crime Group said the scam had been going around the country for some time.

"It's an old scam that goes away for a little while and then resurfaces," Detective Superintendent Lawrence said.

"It's a popular scam because it's worked for the scammers."

He said callers would collect details like dates of birth, addresses, telephone numbers, full names and bank account details.

"Obviously once you've got those details you can pretend to be that person online and start using it to get credit cards and taking money from banks and other people," he said.

What to do if you get a call like this

Detective Superintendent Lawrence said Queensland Police had over 500 reports of similar scams over the past 12 months.

"That's not just solely centred in Queensland but certainly around nationally," he said.

"Mind you, a lot of people wake up to this scam fairly quickly, thank God.

"They hang up … and of course in that respect they don't make a complaint, so no doubt you could multiply the complaints by a number of times to get what the true volume is."

What to do if you get a call like this: Hang up

Hang up Don't respond to numbers supplied in an automated call

Don't respond to numbers supplied in an automated call Delete any messages left on voicemail

Delete any messages left on voicemail Speak to someone you trust about the scam call

Mr Lawrence said educating people about incidents like this, and how to report it would help break down organisations trying to take advantage.

"Not only do the Queensland Police have the 'R U in control' webpage linked to our Facebook, but then there's Scam Watch, which is an Australian Federal Government site to go to," he said.

The number, address and company provided by 'Sophia Maxwell' proved not to be real after further investigation.

Here's a transcript of the call:

Sophia Maxwell: The person from this number had a car accident like somebody ran into their car and it was not their fault in that accident that's why they'd be getting the compensation for their injuries they suffered in that accident. Aneeta Bhole: What sort of compensation? Sophia Maxwell: Compensation for the injuries the discomforts they suffered like any back pain or a neck pain due to that accident. Aneeta Bhole: Can you explain to me how you got this number? Sophia Maxwell: We got the contact number from the Insurance Commission reported as a none-faulted car accident. Aneeta Bhole: Do you know the name of the person that was in the accident? Sophia Maxwell: Yeah it was Mr David Maxwell we just do collaborations with the hospital, (mumbles) and all the insurance company they just forward your contact number and none-faulted car accident that the person is entitled to the compensation we then have to rate the compensation file to the person David Maxwell. Aneeta Bhole: I mean once you've got David Maxwell on the phone, how do you actually give him the compensation? Sophia Maxwell: I will not give over the phone we just, first of all we have to weigh the compensation file for Mr David Maxwell, and after that he will be receiving the paperwork at his doorstep, and then after that he will be receiving the compensation at his doorstep and he don't have to pay a single penny from his pocket. The whole thing will be at his doorstep and he don't have to go anywhere. Aneeta Bhole: We're not sure what this is but we've had about six or seven calls from the same place. Sophia Maxwell: I will tell you madam I will tell you we are a company called accident helpline and we are working under solicitors personal injury compensation lawyers. Aneeta Bhole: Okay, where are you calling from? Sophia Maxwell: From Queensland … Gold Coast. Aneeta Bhole: Is this a scam? Because we really, really, wanted to know. Sophia Maxwell: (Laughter) No madam if this is a scam, should I give a call to you, and if it is a scam I will ask about any banking details or that but I didn't ask for that I just wanted to speak to David so we can process his compensation file. Aneeta Bhole: Right, so what was your name? Sophia Maxwell: Sophia … Maxwell Aneeta Bhole: Your name is Sophia Maxwell, like David Maxwell? Sophia Maxwell: Yeah. Aneeta Bhole: Your last name is the same as the guy that you're trying to find? Sophia Maxwell: Yep. Aneeta Bhole: Okay, well in that case can I have your number just in case David Maxwell turns up? Sophia Maxwell: Yep it's 75641 0106. Aneeta Bhole: And what was your company's name? Sophia Maxwell: The company's name is accident helpline working under lawyers. Aneeta Bhole: Which lawyers sorry? Sophia Maxwell: We have many lawyers, we have collaborations with many lawyers but we are personal injury compensation lawyers. Aneeta Bhole: And what was the address that you're at in Queensland in the Gold Coast? Sohpia Maxwell: Number 6/37 Buntal Way Gold Coast. Aneeta Bhole: Can you spell that name? Sophia Maxwell: B-U-N-T-A-L, Buntal. Aneeta Bhole: No worries and your name was Sophia Maxwell? Sophia Maxwell: Maxwell, yeah. Aneeta Bhole: Yep, okay, what if David Maxwell … Sophia Maxwell: I'll put your number as do not call list. Aneeta Bhole: Okay cool, but you've called about six different numbers you've actually called uhm the ABC, ABC News do you know what ABC News is? Sophia Maxwell: Yep, yep. Aneeta Bhole: Yep, so … Sophia Maxwell: Sorry madam I think I will put your number do not call list and can you provide your extension number so we can put that number on do not call list? Aneeta Bhole: Where did this accident happen? Sophia Maxwell: The accident was in Albany Creek. Aneeta Bhole: Albany Creek. Sophia Maxwell: Yeah. Aneeta Bhole: Okay. Sophia Maxwell: So he'll be getting compensation from the person's insurance, so we are just helping to, uh, generate the compensation. Aneeta Bhole: What insurance company is going to be providing this insurance? Sophia Maxwell: The other person's insurance is R-A-C-Q. Aneeta Bhole: So the R-A-C-Q is going to be providing this insurance? Sophia Maxwell: Yeah. Aneeta Bhole: So If we call the R-A-C-Q and ask if this is true they'll say yes? Sophia Maxwell: Yeah, yeah, yes madam you can ask the RACQ that is David Maxwell accident and they'll provide all the information. Aneeta Bhole: Okay no worries, just so you know I've recorded this full conversation so that you're aware of it. Sophia Maxwell: Yep, no worries madam. Aneeta Bhole: Okay, thank you. Sophia Maxwell: Thank you.