Do-not-fall for Do-Not-Call scam

Stuart Corner
Monday, 28 May 2007 11:30

IT Policy - Regulation

Australia's criminal fraternity is nothing if not ingenious: scammers have seized on the publicity surrounding the new Do-Not-Call register to try and extract money from citizens to have their name listed in the register.

The Do-Not-Call register comes into effect on 1 June from which date it will be an offence for any telesales organisation to cold call any phone number listed on the register.

The register has been set up by the Federal Government at a cost of $33.1million, to be funded in part by the telemarketing industry, However there is no cost to the public who can list any residential phone number by phone, Internet or mail. To date almost one million numbers have been registered.

Now, communications minister, senator Helen Coonan, has issued a statement warning consumers about scams where people were door-knockers are offering to list a person's number on the Do Not Call Register, for a fee. "I am aware that the Australian Communications and Media Authority have received reports of scammers charging as much as $79 to sign people up to the service," she said.

The minister urged anyone being approached in this manner to "get as many details as possible from them to help authorities identify the criminals."