Don’t get caught by the device seller scam

Sound too good to be true? It might be. Here’s what you need to know about not getting stung by this nasty scam.

Remember that episode of The Simpsons where Apu offers Homer 10 pounds of frozen shrimp that isn’t frozen and smells funny after some very cheap, out-of-date meat he sold made Homer sick?

Homer saw an offer on something that was priced so low that he should’ve been suspicious, but instead, he jumped on it and it put him in the hospital. It was hilarious!

The moral of the story? If you hear of an offer on something awesome that’s priced so low it sounds like a scam, well, then it very well could be. And also that bad things are only funny if they happen to other people, like in this Fail Compilation.

Unfortunately, certain dodgy characters must’ve seen the same Simpsons episode, because now some of them are running a similar scam on vulnerable people using the lure of the latest devices at a price so low that it seems too good to be true.

So, to help you and your loved ones avoid becoming the Homer Simpson of the situation, here’s a quick rundown of the scourge known as the Device Seller Scam (dun dun dunnnn). 

What’s a Device Seller scam?

This is potentially a bad one. It essentially involves someone contacting you, claiming to be from a telco and offering you a phone, tablet or watch at a price that sounds too good to be true.

They might be very charming, and they might target you if you’re a recent arrival in Australia, didn’t necessarily grow up here and you’re from the same country as them - to help build a rapport and win your trust.

Once you’re relaxed, they’ll start asking for enough personal information to order a phone from a telco on your behalf and have it delivered to your house.

Then they’ll contact you again to tell you they’ve sent you the wrong phone, and ask you to mail it back to them at the return address… But here’s the Ocean’s 11 twist… You’re not mailing back to Optus at all, you’re mailing it back to them.

And once they’ve got it, they keep it, at your expense. Also, trust us, they’re nowhere near as handsome and loveable as Brad Pitt or George Clooney. They’re Danny DeVito at best.

The scam can also be particularly sinister if they’ve managed to pull it off with several devices, potentially costing you thousands in repayments in phones, tablets or watches you’ll never see or use.

Side-step the sting

Hi. We’ve had a lot of fun here today, with tales of crazy Homer Simpson landing in the hospital and multiple references to the fun and irreverent Ocean’s heist films.

But the reality is that getting caught out by a scam can be everything but entertaining, with a big bill and hole in your credit card to contend with.

That’s why, if you’re keen to avoid this scam, you should follow a few easy rules:

1. Don’t forward or return any packages you get from us to any other address. If you’re unsure, contact us through a legitimate means (like My Optus app for example) and we’ll tell you where to send it.
   
   
2. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you check our website to see if the discount is legitimate, and never buy something on impulse from a source you haven’t verified.
   
   
3. Even if the caller is as charismatic as George Clooney, never give out your personal financial information to an unsolicited caller over the phone.
   
   
4. Never run with scissors. This doesn’t have anything to do with scams, but it’s good advice anyway.

Spend a little time, maybe save a lot of money

Let’s face it, there will always be villains in the world, intent on using nefarious tactics to pry the money loose from the innocent and unsuspecting.

Keep an eye on your vulnerable family members’ phone and internet activity and contact us immediately if you spot any suspicious activity or someone’s asked them to do something that doesn’t feel quite right.

And don’t forget, there’s always the government’s Scamwatch website and our own scams page if you’d like to stay abreast of the latest shady tactics.

Find the latest advice about scams on our scams page.

Explore our Family Hub for more great advice and information. Or, if you’re looking for a way to keep connected and bring your family together, explore our Family Plans for generous data and amazing value.