NBN scammers target Tasmania

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Tasmanian technology lobby group Digital Tasmania has warned that scammers may be targeting residents in the state and fraudulently offering to sign them up to receive services over the National Broadband Network.

“Consumer group Digital Tasmania has received a detailed report of a possible NBN door-to-door sales scam in Hobart,” the organisation said in a statement released today. “The salesperson was wearing a jacket with the logo of a major telecommunications company and implied that the customer could only get the NBN with that company.”

“Incorrect assertions were also made about the current speeds of ADSL and future NBN speeds available to the householder. The salesperson also appeared unfamiliar with suburbs in the area.”

However, Digital Tasmania spokesperson Andrew Connor pointed out, NBN services were currently only available in three locations in the state (with another seven commencing late this year through mid-2012). The area in which the incident occurred was not slated to receive NBN services for years yet, under the current rollout plans.

Digital Tasmania suggested that if door to door sales offers did take plan, residents should obtain details in writing, refrain from paying for any services with cash or cards at that time, check with the state government’s Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading department and let Digital Tasmania know of the approach.

In addition, the group encouraged people not to shun the NBN because of the isolated event. “Consumers should not shun the NBN due to this incident, because there are always unscrupulous people who take advantage of large programs, especially when awareness is low,” said Connor.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy backed Digital Tasmania’s comments, noting that NBN Co would advise communities in advance of any construction what the timeframe would be for the rollout of NBN services in their area.

“Residents and businesses will then have the opportunity to consider a range of retail providers of services and their different offers,” Conroy said. “There are a number of reputable retail service providers (RSPs) offering commercial services over the NBN in Tasmania, such as iiNet, Internode, Exetel, and iPrimus, and Telstra is continuing with its pilot program.”

“As the rollout progresses more and more RSPs will start to provide services over the NBN in Tasmania, so people should look carefully at all offers and keep their options open as the NBN approaches in an increasingly competitive environment.”

“People can protect themselves from such scams by applying common sense rules, asking for appropriate identification and ensuring appropriate checks are made,” the Minister added, noting that an additional step consumers could take would be to report suspected fraud to the SCAMwatch site run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Image credit: Bob Smith, royalty free

18 COMMENTS

    • Yeah, there was always going to be something like this happen. Trust The Australian to scare up people’s beliefs that massive recabling needed to be done to people’s homes, to allow the rats of this earth to try this crap.

      • “Trust The Australian to scare up people’s beliefs that massive recabling needed to be done to people’s homes, to allow the rats of this earth to try this crap.”

        What has the Australian recabling story got to do with what is happening in this instance?

        “Incorrect assertions were also made about the current speeds of ADSL and future NBN speeds available to the householder. The salesperson also appeared unfamiliar with suburbs in the area.”

        No mention was made of recabling at all!

        • I was making a general statement on the culture of these scams. I’ve been in this industry a long time, and I’ve seen it happen over and over.

          Spreaders of misinformation – (such as The Australian – as I used in the example – and others) – perpetuate a sense of belief in the community that things that are not true, might actually be the case.

          It is this that the scammers rely on.

          But, I promise I’ll try to be less “generic” next time so you can understand.

          • No, he’s not. Scammers rely on misinformation, and the it’s disturbing when any of our news media peddles it.

            Recent research has shown that misinformation is extremely difficult to correct in people’s minds, no matter how clearly they are shown the facts afterward.

          • When people go harping on about misinformation and lies, its far more likely that the actual issue is the source is saying something they don’t like

            Michael is just bashing at the Australian because they happen to provide articles opposing his view on the NBN, nothing new

          • Err, shouldn’t the Australian be presenting the news without bias, not providing views which simply oppose MW…

            Surely if they weren’t biased there’d be an occasional pro-NBN article wouldn’t there?

          • They provide both for and anti

            Its just that most tech news sites are heavily pro NBN (for understandable reasons)

          • Yes deteego, the Australian is about 10% pro 90% anti, imo… They are meant to be 50/50…

            But fancy that, tech sites being pro tech..? Gee what next, car sites being pro cars, pro heath supplement sites being pro health … who would ever have thunk it eh…?

            Seriously though, do you alain and Tosh tag team… one comes here blurts out his radcon BS, tags out, Googles wildly for more rubbish, while another takes over?

        • It no different to today tonight running a piece about the latest fuel saving device, magic bracelet or plastic box with a diode inside that save you power. Only to run the a piece a few weeks latter about how it is a scam. These “news” outlet provide the “facts” that the scammers operate on.

  1. Conroy and the NBN Co should get onto this fast with a proper education program, otherwise the already luke warm reception of the NBN rollout sign up rates in Tasmania will only get worse.

  2. I read the title of this article and thought it was going to be about Turnbull. Disappointed.

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