In a groundbreaking first the Australian telco 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.
,According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australian’s lost more than $3 billion to scammers in 2022. Optus’ latest initiative, Call Stop, focuses on combating call-back scams that frequently target consumers.
These scams typically involve individuals receiving emails or SMS messages alleging problems with their bank accounts, such as unauthorised transactions or unauthorised access. The scam instructs recipients to call the bank back using the provided phone number.
When consumers dial the number, they unknowingly connect with scammers posing as their bank representatives. These fraudsters employ various tactics to deceive victims into granting them access to their accounts or transferring funds to the scammers’ controlled accounts.
To counter the threat, Call Stop, a groundbreaking solution by Optus, intervenes. It ensures that when Optus customers dial a recognised scam number, they are prevented from reaching the fraudster. Instead, the call is redirected to an automated message that alerts and safeguards customers against the ongoing scam.
Call Stop will divert the call to a voice message saying: “The number you have called has been reported as being used for scam activities. For more information, please visit optus.com.au/CallStop.”.
The call will then be blocked, preventing the customer from being scammed but providing a clear indication that the warning or threat received was indeed a fake scam message and no action is needed.
Optus has developed Call Stop in collaboration with the AFCX and major Australian banks to help reduce financial scams. In partnership with the financial sector, scam phone numbers that have been identified by banks and their customers are added to the list of scams identified through the Call Stop program.
Optus Vice President, Regulatory & Public Affairs, Andrew Sheridan, said, “We are always updating our technology and looking for new ways to fight off scams across the country,”
“Call Stop is our latest weapon in this battle and protects customers when they have been tricked into ringing a scam number. The automated message very clearly exposes the scam, and the number is then blocked.” he said
David Pegley, Managing Director, at ACFCX, said, “Call and Text scams are the cause of significant financial loss and emotional distress to many Australians,”
“These types of scams are on the rise in 2023, and criminals are using more and more sophisticated methods to catch people out,”
“Our collaboration with Optus, with the support of our banking members, uses innovative technology to better protect consumers being targeted by scammers. It’s hoped that initiatives like Call Stop will curb the acceleration of this scamming technique,” said Pegley
The introduction of “Call Stop” comes as scammers become more sophisticated in their methods, employing tactics that bypass traditional call blocking measures. Optus recognised the need for an advanced solution to counter these scams and took the initiative to develop the cutting-edge technology.
Since December 2020, Optus used a series of initiatives to block 320 million scam calls since and almost 80 million SMS scam messages over the last year. Currently, Optus is blocking close to five million calls and 10 million SMS per month.
