Scammers target telemarketing blacklist

by Adam Turner

Thursday, 07 December 2006

Con artists are charging people to register their details on the new national Do Not Call Register, warns the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

Established as a free service to fight the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls, the Do Not Call Register is scheduled to come into effect no later than May 2007. Individuals with Australian fixed line and mobile numbers will be able to list their numbers for free, but ACMA has already received reports of scammers trying to make money out of the new scheme.

"These individuals do not represent ACMA and they do not have any authority from ACMA to collect details and charge consumers for entry on the register," said Grant Symons, Executive Manager of ACMA’s Converging Services Branch.

"ACMA is obviously concerned about the claims they are making because entering numbers onto the Do Not Call Register will be free. Consumers should report anyone making this offer to ACMA so we can better investigate it."

Under the new laws it will be illegal, in the absence of consent, for any "non-exempt telemarketer" in Australia or overseas to contact a number listed in the register - with fines up to $AU220,000. Exempt telemarketers include political lobbyists, opinion pollsters and charities.{moscomment}

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