Beware of scams targeting VIPtel Mobile customers

June 2011: SCAMwatch is warning current and former VIPtel Mobile
customers to beware of scam phone calls offering a refund in exchange
for payment of a fee. Scammers may claim to be from Centrelink and will
ask for the fee to be paid by wire transfer.

How the scam works:

• You receive a phone call out of the blue from a scammer claiming to
  be from either Centrelink, a ‘consulting company’, an unspecified
  government department, or a lawyer, who claim they have access to
  customer refunds from VIPtel Mobile.
• The scammer will advise you that you are entitled to a refund, claiming it is the result of court action.
• The ACCC has taken a number of court actions against EDirect Pty
  Ltd, which at the time traded as VIPtel Mobile. The ACCC confirms there
  are currently no refunds due to any current or former VIPtel Mobile
  customers as a result of these court actions.
• The scammer will ask you to pay a fee via wire transfer in order to
  receive your refund. If you pay this money you are likely to lose it all
  and will not receive any money or “refund” in return. Some victims have
  reported losing over $3,000 to this scam.
• The scammer may already have some of your personal information, such
  as your financial or contact details, and may use these to make the
  scam seem legitimate.

Protect yourself

• If you receive a phone call out of the blue claiming you need to pay money to access a refund, hang up immediately.
• If you’re not sure that a call is a scam you can check by
  independently using official contact details, never use phone numbers or
  email addresses provided by the caller.
• NEVER provide or confirm your personal details over the phone unless
  you made the call using details you found yourself and you trust the
  other party.
• Where possible, avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for
  up-front payment via money order, wire transfer or moneygram. It is rare
  to recover money sent this way.
• SCAMwatch urges you to never pay money upfront to receive a ‘refund’
  or ‘free’ money – this is advance fee fraud, also know as an up-front payment scam.
• If you think you have provided bank account or credit card details
  to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.