‘Sophisticated’ Optus scam tricking customers with fake email, police warn

Police have warned of a “sophisticated” Optus scam targeting people with fake emails before urging them to enter their credit card details.

Customers of the Aussie telecommunications company have reported receiving the suspicious emails in their inbox over the last few days, with police now warning that the scammers use a “cunning” email and payment page to make the con appear completely legitimate.

Sharing a photo of the fake email and payment page on social media, New South Wales police warned: “They want your credit card information for what is claimed to be unpaid bill.”

While the email appears to use an exact replica of the instantly recognisable Optus logo, the payment page gives a list of options for payment card methods, with boxes for account number, name, expiry and more – similar to any payment page often seen online.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has since confirmed they have received reports of emails with the subject line ,”we are unable to process your last payment”.

“The fake emails are sophisticated and use a web address that looks like the real Optus website. The email contains a link to a fake ‘pay your bill’ page, which then asks for your credit card details,” the police added in their statement.

“The fake email and payment form are cunningly crafted to trick people. It’s important you check the legitimacy of email links to protect your personal information – use contact details you find through a legitimate source and not those contained in the suspicious message.”

They advised anyone who receives this email to delete it immediately.

Read more: Aussies ‘losing thousands’ to fake Facebook lottery scam

Some customers have already begun receiving the emails, with one Facebook user commenting: “I received two of these and called Optus, they said everything was okay with my bill and to ignore the emails. I asked if it was a legit email as I knew the payment went through and the guy said yes sorry I don’t know how that got sent to you.

“Maybe Optus should be investigating its own workers because it seems to be an ongoing problem with them.”

Another user added: “I got one 3 days ago…bloody fools they are.” And one wrote: “I got one I pay online so knew it was a scam.”

Meanwhile one advised: “They always say ‘Dear customer ‘….instant giveaway!!” 

However another added: “You are lucky…..3 years on and i still cant get a bill! ……have to chase them every month.”

Are you an Optus customer? Do you think you’d have fallen for this scam?