- Bessie Hassan
- Head of PR & Money Expert
- finder.com.au
- +61 402 567 568
- Bessie.Hassan@finder.com.au
Media Release
The sneaky texts that are costing Aussies $44,000
- Mobile premium service scams are costing Aussies 6 times more than in 2015
- Aussies have lost $153,197 since 2015
- How to know when you’re being scammed
24 July 2018, Sydney, Australia – More and more Aussies are being scammed by premium service texts, according to finder.com.au, the site that compares virtually everything.
finder.com.au analysis of ACCC ScamWatch data showed mobile premium service scams are on the rise, with Aussies already scammed out of $44,179 in 2018 alone.
This year’s tally is almost six times larger than January to June 2015, when reported scams totalled $7,714.
Mobile premium service texts usually come from numbers that start with 19, and they deliver anything from news and financial data to horoscopes, ringtones, adult services, competitions and games.
While some people may willingly sign up to these services, others might receive unsolicited messages, and be charged by scammers for just receiving the text.
Alex Kidman, Tech Expert at finder.com.au, says scammers are smart and if their tactics work, they keep using them.
“We may occasionally receive a nonsensical text that we read and then casually delete. What some people might not realise, is that a $4 or $6 charge appears on their bill later that month just for receiving it if it’s from a premium service you’ve unwittingly signed up for.”
“If you receive a text from a service you don’t recognise or don’t remember signing up to, chances are it’s a scam. Call your telco and ask for the number to be blocked. In fact you can get all premium service numbers blocked.”
Looking at full calendar years, money lost from premium services scams has more than doubled, increasing by 146% from 2015 to 2017.
Since 2015, mobile premium service scams have robbed Aussies of $153,197.
“Don’t be fooled by messages offering gift vouchers from well-known brands or competitions with great prizes. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”
“Always check your bill. If it’s higher than usual and not related to excess data charges or overseas calls, look out for premium service charges.”
| Year | Cost | Number of reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $19,821 | 826 |
| 2016 | $40,354 | 2,030 |
| 2017 | $48,843 | 1,847 |
| 2018 (Jan-June) | $44,179 | 1,162 |
| Year | Cost | Number of reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (Jan-June) | $7,714 | 312 |
| 2016 (Jan-June) | $23,510 | 1,404 |
| 2017 (Jan-June) | $20,294 | 902 |
| 2018 (Jan-June) | $44,179 | 1,162 |
How to know when you’re being scammed
1. You’ve received a message from a business you have never heard of or don’t remember signing up to
2. The text is from a phone number that starts with 19
3. You notice extra charges on your bill for third-party services
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For further information
- Bessie Hassan
- Head of PR & Money Expert
- finder.com.au
- +61 402 567 568
- Bessie.Hassan@finder.com.au
Disclaimer
The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com.au's review pages for the current correct values.
About Finder
Every month 2.6 million unique visitors turn to Finder to save money and time, and to make important life choices. We compare virtually everything from credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.
Our free service is 100% independently-owned by three Australians: Fred Schebesta, Frank Restuccia and Jeremy Cabral. Since launching in 2006, Finder has helped Aussies find what they need from 1,800+ brands across 100+ categories.
We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and now have offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland and the Philippines. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.
12.6 million average unique monthly audience (June- September 2019), Nielsen Digital Panel