NBN Co is urging residents to beware of scammers impersonating the broadband network provider.
Tips to help residents understand how to identify and avoid scammers posing as NBN Co have been released on its website today
The advice followed an 84 per cent increase in enquiries about suspected scams made to the contact centre since October 2018, with about 14 per cent of calls coming from WA residents.
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More than a million WA homes and businesses are now able to connect to national broadband.
NBN WA manager Jane McNamara urged residents and businesses to be “vigilant” of callers claiming to be from NBN Co requesting personal or financial information.
“With nearly three in four WA homes and businesses now able to connect to the NBN access network, it’s vital people understand the steps involved in making the switch, including how and when NBN Co and retailers will communicate with customers,” she said.
“It’s important to remember the key point of contact for Australians connecting to the NBN access network will always be their preferred phone and internet service provider.
“This is because NBN Co is a wholesale-only company and does not sell services directly to the public.
“In fact connecting to the NBN access network is not automatic and people need to contact their preferred phone or internet provider to make the switch.
“We will never make unsolicited calls or door knock to sell broadband services to the public.
“We will never request remote access to a resident’s computer and we will never make unsolicited requests for payment or financial information.”
She said NBN Co never made unsolicited calls, door knock to sell broadband services to the public, request remote access to a resident’s computer or make requests for payment or financial information.
“Protect yourself by verifying who are you are talking to. If in doubt, hang up and call your retail service provider customer service centre to check if the call is legitimate,” she said.
NBN Co’s top tips for protecting yourself against scammers
– Visit NBN Co’s website at www.nbn.com.au/scamadvice for information on how to identify and avoid potential scammers or for advice if you suspect you have been scammed.
– Remember NBN Co is a wholesaler, which means we do not sell phone or internet services directly to the public. People need to contact their preferred phone and internet provider in order to make the switch.
– Do not share your financial information (i.e. bank, credit card or gift card details) or personal details with an unsolicited caller or door knockers trying to seek payment for an NBN service.
– Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer or devices via the installation of programs.
– NBN Co does not make automated calls (i.e. robot calls) to advise of disconnections to a service. Please do not engage with these calls.
– If in doubt, hang up and call your retail service provider on their official customer service centre number to check if the call is legitimate. Do not use contact details supplied by the caller.
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