Britons are being warned about a highly sophisticated new identity fraud scam that is seeing criminals expertly impersonate staff from Australian telecommunications behemoth Telstra.
The elaborate con, designed to steal victims' personal and financial information, has been flagged by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Fraudsters are contacting individuals via email, text message, or phone call, falsely claiming to be from Telstra's security department.
How The Elaborate Scam Operates
The criminals employ a clever ruse, informing their targets that suspicious activity has been detected on their account or that their connection has been compromised. To build trust and a sense of urgency, they often instruct the victim to verify their identity by calling a number listed in the official Telstra phone book—a number that the scammers themselves are answering.
Once they have their target on the line and convinced of their legitimacy, the fraudsters then request a series of personal documents under the guise of 'securing' the account.
What Information Are They After?
The scam is meticulously designed to harvest the most valuable personal data. Victims are being asked to provide:
- Driver's licences
- Passports
- Medicare cards
- Other forms of personal identification
This information is a goldmine for criminals, enabling them to commit full-scale identity theft, open bank accounts, apply for loans, or make fraudulent purchases in the victim's name.
Official Advice: How To Stay Protected
Telstra has reiterated that it will never contact a customer out of the blue to request personal documents like passports or driver's licences. The ACMA has issued crucial guidance for all consumers:
- Verify Independently: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the company directly using official contact details from their website or your bill.
- Never Use Provided Numbers: Do not call a number provided by the person who contacted you; it is almost certainly part of the scam.
- Guard Your Data: Be extremely cautious about who you share your personal information with, especially if you did not initiate the contact.
- Report It: Report any suspected scam attempts to relevant authorities to help prevent others from falling victim.
This warning serves as a critical reminder that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting the trusted names of large corporations to prey on the public. Vigilance is the best defence.
