Telecommunications company, Optus, will stop its customers from calling suspected scam numbers this week.
The company is targeting “call back scams” where people receive emails or texts advising them to call a phone number to resolve issues with their bank account.
Optus says it will divert calls to flagged scam phone numbers to an automated voice message which will say, “The number you have called has been reported as being used for scam activities. For more information, please visit optus.com.au/CallStop”.
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The call will then be blocked, preventing the customer from potential money loss or identity theft.
The project is a partnership between Optus and the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX), which helps co-ordinate data-sharing between private and public sector organisations to prevent financial and cybercrime.
A list of suspicious phone numbers has been curated for the Call Stop project with the help of banks, their customers and the AFCX, an Optus Spokesperson said.
Optus vice president of regulatory and public affairs Andrew Sheridan said the company currently blocks close to five million scam calls and 10 million scam SMS each month, and this will strengthen its available defences against cybercrime.
“Call Stop is our latest weapon in this battle and protects customers where they have been tricked into ringing a scam number,” he said.
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