Issue Date:  -  Wednesday, 14 May 2003

SARS fax survey could con thousands

Urgent Consumer Alert

The 190 Fax Scammers are at it again and Consumer Protection is issuing an urgent public warning not to respond to a SARS fax survey as it could be the most expensive fax message ever sent.

The sender Telads asks receivers of the fax to answer questions about the SARS virus and fax the answers to a 1902 fax service at a cost of $4.95 per minute.

"It has been our experience that these scams target subjects close to our hearts such as the Iraqi war and SARS to launch these so-called surveys as there is a good chance large numbers of people will respond.

"190 fax services are notoriously slow and we have had reports of people receiving an account for $100 for a single fax message when they answered one of these surveys", Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said today.

The faxes arrive with the large banner heading "Australia Needs Your Help - SARS Research Questionnaire" and asks questions such as:

* Has the SARS epidemic made you change your travel plans?

* Are you confused about media reports on SARS?

* Do you think the SARS virus could be deliberately man made?

"Telads claims that the results will be analysed and distributed to various organisations such as Australian universities and tourism agencies. We are highly sceptical of this and want consumers to know they should not respond", Commissioner Walker said.

Consumer Protection has urgently referred the 1902 number being used to the Telephone Information Service Standards Council who have the power to pull the plug on the Telads SARS survey.

Anyone receiving this fax should send it postage-free to Consumer Protection's WA ScamNet, Reply Paid 64772, Locked Bag 14 Cloisters Square Western Australia 6850.

Additional information and advice can be obtained from the Department on telephone 1 300 30 40 54.