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Telstra warns customers after 400 per cent increase in reports of scam calls

telstraTelstra has reported a four-fold increase in the number of attempts by scammers to trick consumers into disclosing sensitive financial information.

The company said con artists are saying they are from Telstra and in most cases falsely claiming there is a problem with their computer and seeking remote access to fix the issue.

The warning comes a week after former Commonwealth Bank chief marketer Andy Lark said he was bombarded with calls from a company claiming to represent the telco, although Telstra denied it had links to the calls, warning they may have been a scam.

Telstra’s customer service team is receiving about 500 scam-related comments per month, while field staff are also reporting a lift in anecdotal reports, which the telco’s director of customer advocacy Peter Jamieson described as “concerning”.

“These criminals operating these scams are trying to sell customers fake software updates or trick them into disclosing their personal details over the telephone so those details can then be used illegally,” Jamieson said.

“The increasing number of these telephone scams is concerning and customers should be alert to any attempts to trick them into disclosing their credit card or banking details over the telephone.

“Telstra is encouraging its customers to protect their personal information and be particularly wary of telephone calls from numbers they don’t recognise.”

The telco advised consumers to hang up if they have suspicions and call the organisation back using official contact details, never give an unsolicited caller access to a computer and be wary of sharing any personal detail with any caller over the phone.

Reports of scam calls can be made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via the Scamwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au and direct to Telstra trough its misuse if service form, via the telephone on 132200 and Telstra 24×7.

Steve Jones

 

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