NBN Co is launching an awareness drive across the country as calls to the company’s contact centre about suspected scams reach in excess of 9,500 enquiries for the past quarter, at an average of 100 a day.
As part of National Scams Awareness Week, nbn local, NBN Co’s community engagement team1, will visit and host a series of information sessions across the country to arm residents with advice to help identify and avoid scammers.
Currently, more than 10 million Australian homes and businesses are now able to make the switch to the nbn™ access network with the rollout on track for completion in 2020.
NBN Co’s Chief Security Officer, Darren Kane, said the company’s increased focus on scams prevention comes amid the proliferation of scammers at a time when the network rollout is reaching mass scale.
“Through our interactions with the community, we know that scams are, without a doubt, a major topic of concern with respect to the nbn. Our own contact centre has received more than 9,500 enquiries over the past quarter alone from the public, nationally, about suspected scams.
“As we close in on the end of the network build, scammers are increasing their efforts to take advantage of the nbn brand as a way to steal people’s personal or financial details and using increasingly sophisticated ways to convince people of their legitimacy.
“We want to help set the record straight when it comes to scams so that Australians aren’t confused or deterred from making the switch, which is why it’s never been more important for residents to understand how to connect to the nbn, as well as how we communicate with the public during the rollout.
“This week, our teams across the country will be concentrated on arming residents, and particularly those who help some of the vulnerable in our community with utilities, with information on what to look out for and what to do if they suspect they have been contacted by a scammer impersonating NBN Co.
“As NBN Co is a wholesaler, we will never contact residents or businesses to sell phone or internet services. We will never make unsolicited calls or door knock for the purposes of seeking access to people’s computer, threaten to disconnect your services or request personal or financial details.
“Your phone and internet provider will always be the first point of contact when it comes to making the switch to the nbn™ network, so if you’re in doubt, hang up and contact your provider to verify the call.”
