Carrying a mobile phone is essential for many Australians, but many are not fully aware of their rights and are at risk of being scammed.
All this week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is taking part in National Law Week, which is focusing on mobile phone issues for consumers. The event takes place every year and aims to teach the community about the law, the legal system and the legal profession.
Regional Outreach Managers from the ACCC will participate in a variety of activities with their local law organisations, including attending court open days to explain the ways the ACCC helps consumers, and holding role plays in secondary schools to teach students about warranty and refund rights for mobile phones. The activities are designed to make mobile phone users of all ages more aware of their consumer rights.
One of the key issues to be highlighted will be the downloading of ringtones, games and other premium services. These services are frequently offered through a subscription and consumers may not be aware of the charges involved until they receive the bill or they run out of credit.
With new scams are popping up all the time, mobile phone users are constantly being targeted, especially if they use their phone for banking or making purchases. In some instances, scammers may pose as a bank representative or other organisation claiming to need personal details – when in fact they want to use the information for scam purposes.
For more information about mobile phone issues, visit the ACCC’s website at www.accc.gov.au via the For consumers section. To report scams or receive further information, visit the SCAMwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
