Do Not Call
AS FEATURED ON ABC STATEWIDE DRIVE WITH KATHY BEDFORD
I have to step carefully here.
Back in ‘07, when the Australian government brought in the Do Not Call register, I warned people in the Australia media that a new scam might pop up.
Turns out I gave the scammers the idea and soon, swindlers started going door to door charging people to put their names on the free register.
In other words, an annoying marketer sold people a free service that stops annoying marketers from calling you.
And it’s all my fault.
Now, there is a new email doing the rounds surrounding the swindle.
This is legit YOUR CHOICE……….. This is for Australian phone numbers!
REMEMBER: Mobile Phone Numbers Go Public next month.
REMINDER all mobile phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS
Below is a link where you can enter your phone numbers online to put an end to telemarketing calls
https://www.donotcall.gov.au/
In other words, the creator of the email is suggesting that Australian phone companies are selling the names and numbers of their customers to marketers.
Not only that, for some very strange reason, you will be charged for the calls!
Of course, none of this true but is hasn’t stopped the email spreading like wildfire.
Silly.
People who forward emails without checking the story first is a pet hate of mine. I got that email at work from our umbrella organization, and I work in Community Information for crying out loud, even the state body CIVic (Community Information Victoria) is passing this garbage around. I even made a rather inelegant post on FB about it.
http://www.facebook.com/stardock
I also work with a lot of older people and less computer literate types and have seen the honest fear and panic these hoaxes can induce.