19/07 12 March 2007
Protect your phone from scams
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today joined the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce in warning consumers to be alert to scams that operate by calls or texts to private phones.
“As well as the cold call scams promising incredible investment returns that have been around for a while now, scammers are devising more sophisticated ways to take advantage of consumers through calls or texts to their fixed line and mobile phones,” Senator Coonan said.
“Consumers need to be aware that they could be targeted by unscrupulous people and be able to protect themselves from often ingenious scams.”
Consumers can avoid scams when they know what to look out for, or exercise caution so as not to fall into the scammer’s trap. The Taskforce offers the following tips to help consumers protect themselves from phone scams:
- be suspicious of unexpected calls and text messages;
- hang up, or text ‘STOP’ to unwanted messages; and
- don’t give out your number to just anyone.
“The Australian Government is committed to protecting consumers from scams of all kinds through effective legislation, regulation and education,” Senator Coonan said.
“In October 2006 the Mobile Premium Services Industry Scheme came into force. It was developed by providers of mobile phone services and mobile content, and was approved by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), www.acma.gov.au.”
“We are expecting to launch the National Do Not Call Register in May 2007. The Register, which will be administered by ACMA, is being set up in response to increasing levels of community concern about the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls.”
Background to the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce
As part of a whole-of-Government approach to combat consumer fraud and scams targeted at consumers, the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce was established in March 2005 and comprises all of the governmental regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand who have responsibilities for consumer protection.
The four-week campaign was launched on 4 March by the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce to help people protect themselves from scams.
The overall theme for the four weeks of the campaign is ‘SCAMS TARGET YOU—Protect yourself’.
The theme for the second week of the campaign is ‘Protect your phone’.
Agencies participating in the Taskforce are:
Australian Government: Attorney-General’s Department; Australian Bureau of Statistics; Australian Communications and Media Authority; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission; Australian Federal Police (represented by the Australian High Tech Crime Centre); Australian Institute of Criminology; Australian Securities and Investment Commission; and the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.
New Zealand Government: NZ Commerce Commission; Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
State and territory governments: All State and Territory Police jurisdictions; Australian Capital Territory—Office of Fair Trading; Consumer Affairs Victoria; New South Wales— Office of Fair Trading; Consumer Affairs Northern Territory; Queensland—Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development; South Australia—Office of Consumer and Business Affairs; Tasmania—Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading; Western Australia—Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
Taskforce partners
Taskforce members are joined in communicating with Australian consumers about scams by a range of community, non-government and private sector organisations. Visit www.scamwatch.gov.au for a list of Taskforce partners.
Consumers who think they’ve spotted a scam can check the SCAMwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au which has detailed information about scams, or report a scam on 1300 795 995.
Consumers can also fill out the scams survey on the Australian Institute of Criminology website at http://web.aic.gov.au/surveys/acft/
Media Contact: Katherine Meier - 0417 441 141