"90#" PHONE SCAM DOES NOT WORK IN NEW ZEALAND

23 December 1998

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Telecom has again reassured customers that the recently publicised "90 #" telephone scam does not work in New Zealand.

It appears to only work in the United States and only with customers using a PABX system. The scam involves a fraudster telephoning a customer, claiming to be a telephone service technician wishing to test the line. The customer is asked to dial 90# and then hang up. In some instances, this allows the caller to make illegal phone calls at the customer's expense.

Telecom first heard about the American scam more than 18 months ago and immediate extensive testing of the Telecom network and commonly used PABX systems revealed that the 90# scam does not work here, Telecom's Fraud Centre Manager, Colin Yates said. "We have checked with the leading telecommunications carrier in Australia and it seems it doesn't work there either."

Mr Yates said that customers should be aware that Telecom technicians or contractors never phone customers and ask them to complete tests over the telephone. "Any customers receiving such calls should call Telecom as soon as possible with any details."

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