Senator Conroy warns about scam phone calls
By David Olsen on Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and
the Digital Economy is warning businesses about an increase in the
number of scam phone calls in Australia.
Queensland Police last month issued their own warning about scam phone
calls coming from people who told victims they were calling from
Microsoft or were working for another company on behalf of the
software giant to delete virus infections on peoples computers.
"People can protect themselves from scams by applying common sense
rules. If something being offered sounds too good to be true, it
probably is," Senator Conroy said.
Complaints about scam phone calls to the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Communications and Media
Authority (ACMA) have spiked in the last few months, increasing 1000
percent from 200 to around 2,000 calls per month.
"If people are targeted by a scam telephone call they should never
disclose any personal or financial details and they should immediately
hang up the phone.
"I would also encourage people to report the scam so that the ACCC and
ACMA can investigate and take action against those responsible."
Senator Conroy said the ACCC and the ACMA were warning consumers about
scam telephone calls where callers:
advise that the person's computer is infected with a virus and request
credit card details to fix the problem
offer products, services or cash under fake government grants
seek bank details in order to process a bank fee refund or tax refund
offer to place the person's number on the Do Not Call Register for a fee
ask consumers, using a recorded message, to dial 9 for a 'free' holiday.
