- New automated call block technology will stop calls to known scam numbers.
- The initiative sees Optus join forces with the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange and banking members including the major banks for the first time.
- Australians lost more than $3 billion to scammers in 2022, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
In a first for the Australian telecommunications industry, Optus has partnered with the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX) and banking members, including the major banks, and taken a major step forward in protecting customers from SMS scams with the introduction of Call Stop, commencing this week.
The initiative will help stop scammers in their tracks when they send out scam SMS to unsuspecting victims of an identified scam number.
Call Stop targets call back scams, where consumers receive an email or SMS claiming issues with their bank account (often that unauthorised payments were made with their account, or that someone else had accessed their account), and asks consumers to call back the bank on the number provided.
By calling the number, consumers reach a scammer impersonating their bank. Scammers then trick the victim into providing access to their account, or to transfer their money into an account controlled by the scammer.
Call Stop prevents Optus customers who call an identified scam number from reaching the fraudster and instead forwards the call to an automated message to warn customers of the scam.
