Issue Date:  -  Friday, 2 August 2002

Sex, weight and Real Estate - fax rip offs.

Fax messages promoting improved sexual stamina; a five-day diet; and properties for purchase have been received by individuals and business people from around Western Australia. By responding, even to say they are not interested lands consumers with costly phone/fax bills.

In all of the above cases, a "fax on demand" number is used, prefixed with the number 1902 and attracts call charges of $5.50 per minute.

One caller responding to a five-day diet received a charge of over $100 on their phone account after requesting the information which was sent on a slower than usual fax service.

"Like many unsolicited offers by mail, fax and Internet, it is difficult to ascertain the validity of the products or services being promoted. Consumers may not only be risking a high telephone bill by replying to the fax, but may also be putting their health on the line", Consumer Protection's David Hillyard said today.

The most recent 1902-fax offer hit WA real estate agents after doing the rounds through agents in NSW and the Northern Territory. A company calling themselves Dennett & Dennett Property Investments in Cheshire England, was allegedly seeking properties to purchase in the $100k to $400k price range and was asking for lists of properties to be faxed to them on the $5.50 per minute fax on demand system.

"Inquires made by us to the City of Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom revealed no business or property investment registration for that company name and that their operating address was a private home", Mr. Hillyard said.

1900 and 1902 numbers are often used to respond to competitions and to obtain information by fax from television shows. People calling these numbers should always carefully check the cost of the calls as they are often charged by the minute.

Suspicious faxes can be forwarded to Consumer Protection's WAScamNet on fax number 9282 0862. Further assistance on avoiding scams and other rip offs can be obtained by telephoning 1300 30 40 54 for the cost of a local call.