Tips to avoid being caught by pirates, cowboys and rogues
Telstra and BigPond customers have recently reported an increase of emails, phone calls and dodgy doorknockers that have used questionable methods to retrieve personal information. In order to protect you against any deceitful behaviour we have put together some tips aimed to help keep you protected.
Stop online pirates!
Emails are an easy way of sending information hassle-free. However some customers have reported receiving hoax emails from unknown senders asking for private details. Here are some tell-tale signs how you can be sure if you have a BigPond email or a bogus one.
BigPond Email | Hoax Email |
- BigPond emails always include our full company name and ABN
- There is a secure log in section called ‘My BigPond’
| - If you are asked to email confidential information
- If you see direct links to download files
|
If you’re still uncertain contact BigPond (www.bigpond.com) to find out for sure whether the email is from BigPond.
Further ways to avoid being caught by a hoax email is to regularly change your account password (as long as you can remember it!) and avoid emails with untrustworthy sources like the plague – they could have a virus which can extract your personal information.
Stop cowboy telemarketers!
Telemarketing is an important way of informing customers about new offers and products yet if you receive a suspicious phone call there are certain things you can do:
- Always make sure you ask who is calling and why.
- If the telemarketer claims to be an affiliate to Telstra make sure you check their credentials.
- We investigate complaints about our behaviour and review complaints about competitor behaviour so if your concerned about telemarketer calls or wish to report rogue telemarketers you can phone us on 1800 269 270.
- If you’re not happy with the response from the company involved you can forward the complaint to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman on 1800 062 058.
Stop rogue doorknockers!
Doorknocking is another way we let our customers know about new plans, services and products. Here are some tips to be sure you know who’s knocking at your door:
- Telstra always supplies doorknockers with identification so be sure to ask to see their ID.
- We always use 'voice signature' to capture customer's consent/acceptance for any sale. The doorknocker will facilitate this by calling into a call centre and having a verification caller call the customer.
- If you wish to report any improper sales practices you can call our Sales Watch Hotline on 1800 260 270 8am-5pm.