Avoiding phone scams

Australians yearn for holidays. We spend $53 billion a year on travel and accommodation.

But scammers are taking advantage of our vacations fixation, offering what seems the bargain of a lifetime, luring thousands of people.

Elizabeth Duke is one of hundreds of thousands who have been cold-called, her privacy invaded at home, all the name of a bogus holiday prize.

Pat Nolan, Telstra area Manager for the Illawarra area in NSW, says it's just a marketing ploy to get your private details and to get you to buy their products.

The scammers pick a region, like they have done in his area, and ring every household.

"It is computed generated," Pat said.

"They get into an area's exchange, then call numbers randomly. They want to put your name and details on a marketing register."

The Consumers Telecommunications Network's Teresa Corbin says the Florida-based setup targets Australians usually late at night, when we are tired and vulnerable.

Michael Jenkin from Adelaide works for a company with around 100 staff. Virtually every one of them has been hit by a similar scam, starting with a call on their mobile phones.

Before you have a chance to answer, it ends. When you call back, a recording directs callers to phone a 190 number at a cost of around $3 a minute.

You're told the prize will be worth at least $40 and there's the promise of a Caribbean holiday if you stay on the line. Both are lies. Meanwhile, your phone bill is clocking up around $3 a minute.

Another holiday con that's been doing the rounds: Travelworld. A bogus company sounding like the real Jetset Travelworld - and an Australian-based TravelWorld - but with no connection with either of those companies.

Its reps cold-called people, tricking thousands into believing they had won a great holiday.

Sonya Gilmore was promised 80 per cent off accommodation. All she'd have to pay was $299 per person, kids free.

"They just put on this message that said 'you've just won this 13-day holiday to the USA, if you want more information push 9', so I push 9," Sonya said.

Too good to be true. It was just a trick to get her private financial details and put her life savings at risk.

"They say to you, 'we need your details for confirmation', and that sort of thing," Sonya said.

"They asked for my credit card details, for my number."

Luckily, Sonya didn't have her credit card on her and became suspicious.

The problem is, while Australian telecommunication authorities and Fair Trading watchdogs condemn these unscrupulous practices, they claim they have no power to stop them or prosecute the overseas scammers, unless there's an Australian company linked to them.

So it's up to you to recognise it's a con and not get caught.

Patrick Nolan advises: "Don't give your credit card or bank details over the phone."

Scams can be reported to the ACCC, which has an arrangement with overseas consumer affairs bodies and police who may be able to track down scammers. Go to www.scamwatch.gov.au, or call ACCC Infocentre 1300 302 502.

The national Do Not Call Register can list your details to stop unsolicited calls from Australian based organisations: www.donotcall.gov.au