Scam Calls

Scam calls can sometimes be challenging to detect.

Callers will often claim they are calling on behalf of well-known organisations you’ve heard of, such as the nbn^®, ATO or Telstra.

Scam calls commonly involve the caller trying to access your personal information, your computer, or demand a payment you don’t owe.

Calls often involve threats of more severe penalties if you fail to comply and sometimes inappropriate language.

The ACCC Little Black Book of Scams, which is available online here, is an essential tool for you to access as it includes the information on scam awareness.

Types of Scam Calls

The most common scam calls that you may be exposed to are:

• A caller impersonating a business you have an account with, asking for a payment you do not owe;
• A caller claiming to be from a Government agency, such as Australian Federal Police, Australian Tax Office; or a well-known business, such as Telstra or Microsoft;
• A caller impersonating nbn^® claiming to want to set up an appointment to attend your premise and ask for your personal information;
• A caller advising you that your internet will be cancelled and contact your provider.
• A caller claiming to need remote access to your computer for any reason.

How to protect yourself?

• Do not share your personal information with an unknown or unsolicited caller;
• Hang up and call the company that the caller purported to be from directly back to confirm the caller’s claims;
• Do not share your banking details with an unknown or unsolicited caller. Contact your financial institution immediately if you believe you have lost money to a scammer as they are often able to stop a transaction, or
• Change your password regularly, and immediately if you feel a scammer potentially has your account details;
• Change your default PINs and passwords and select strong ones on any new equipment and ensure you change them regularly. Note: Avoid passwords or pins such as “1234” or “0000” or “password”;
• Lock your mobile handset with secure PINs and ensure that voicemail PINs are secure;
• Disable PABX ports and features that aren’t used (e.g. Remote call- forwarding)
• Do not respond to missed calls or SMS from unknown numbers including Australian and International or an unknown source;
• Block any suspicious or unknown numbers from your mobile and were available on your landline;
• If it’s an unknown caller, allow it to go to voicemail and listen to the message to determine if it’s a genuine caller;
• Register your phone number with the ‘Do Not Call Register’ here: https://www.donotcall.gov.au/consumers/register-your-numbers/

What to do if you have received a potential scam call?

You can report the scam call to Activ8me using the online form in the ‘Report a Scam Call’ page of our website.

Alternatively, call us on 13 22 88, and one of our friendly staff members will assist you.

This allows our Network Operations Centre to investigate the issue and report the number to the relevant organisation.

You can also report the Scam call to www.Scamwatch.gov.au.