bullsh*t message from Tax Office...

I just got called from these scammers wanting to refund $2640 from a phone company I had never used. People wake up. Why would Centerlink be chasing money. It is not there purpose. I asked to be sent a check and then he wanted me to transfer money to him for fees. Told him it was a scam and hung up.

was rung from this number (02) 6100 3638. I too was told if I went to the nearest Post Office and sent $250 into a western Union Account in ten minutes I would get a text telling me when the sum of $2200 was going too put into my nominated bank account. The persons name was Leeza Thomas from Centrelink Head Office Canberra, she is Senior Solicitor Centrelink Canberra. The problem I had was the address she gave me belonged to a Real Estate in Illinois,and she was very persistant in getting me to forward this money. I believe this is a SCAM so people beware.

this number is use for scam for money.
this is what they say they working on behalf of centrelink canberra,to refund money from phone company viptel which was operating in india and charged with scaming from people here in australia
so they ask for money to be transferred to india by money transfer for lawyers invovle for their fee and tell you as soon as you transfer this money within 10 to 15 mins you will get ur refund money back. which never happens.i lost 1300 doing this .i have to report this to cops as soon as i get a chance.please somebody track this number and
put it to stop or plenty people will go thruogh this scam. the way they talk are very proffesional
bullsh*t liers you will only come to know after you transfer the money
any question ring me on 0416 104 415
they are ringing all customers of vip tel consider
this as a matter as of urgency and act upon it
i wish i could find them

I got a call from this no. on 13th September and they said we are calling from Centrelink head office Canberra refund branch we want to refund 3000 $ on behalf of VIP tel. but before that you have to pay the tax which is 375$, when you paid this amount,  within 1 hour we transferred 3000$ in your account now its 1 week nobody response us back.can you tell me please how can i get my money back.

From the ACCC site:

http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/810365/fromItemId/810627

VIPtel mobile phone telemarketers misled consumers: refunds follow

The Federal Court in Darwin today declared that VIPtel Mobile engaged in multiple breaches of the Trade Practices Act 1974 during telemarketing calls across Australia.

Many customers were contracted to 24 month commitments while living in places without network coverage.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took action following complaints from remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. More than 150 customers with no network coverage will receive refunds and will be able to cancel contracts with no penalty as a result of the ACCC action.

Other claims by VIPtel included:

calls to any mobile or landline would be charged at the cost of a local call
customers would pay no more than a capped monthly fee
the mobile phones could be used to send pictures and access the internet without additional charges
a customer would be able to terminate the plan at any time at no additional charge, and
network coverage was available Australia-wide.
The court found that none of these statements were true. Whilst many of the affected consumers were indigenous, non-indigenous consumers across Australia were also targeted.

The court also declared the directors, Mr Manan Chopra and Mr Vishal Gupta aided, abetted, counselled or procured the contraventions of the Act by VIPtel.

The company has been ordered:

not to engage in the conduct again
to arrange for the broadcast of a community service announcement in indigenous communities to educate consumers about telemarketing calls
to implement a Trade Practices compliance program, and
to pay costs of $50,000 to the ACCC.
The company also provided court enforceable undertakings to the ACCC regarding refunds to consumers.

In making the orders Justice Reeves said: "the most egregious aspect of EDirect's conduct was in its selling its mobile phones and service plans to people living in remote areas of Australia, including remote Aboriginal communities, when the slightest enquiry on its behalf would have disclosed that those mobile phones could not connect to the Optus GSM network because that network did not provide coverage to those remote areas of Australia."

He further stated: "Similar observations could be made about EDirect's conduct in publishing statements and maps on the VIPtel website which clearly conveyed the impression that EDirect was able to provide mobile phone coverage to almost all of the Australian land mass. Again the slightest enquiry would have revealed to EDirect that this representation was quite untrue."

He also said that: "The likelihood of detection of these sorts of breaches is slight, particularly in remote areas of Australia, and for that reason the full force of the law should be brought to bear in circumstances where, as is in this case, the authorities have managed to detect such breaches."

He said that: "I enquired of the parties whether there was any regulatory regime in place that required telemarketing calls of the kind involved in this case to be recorded, especially where they involve oral contracts. It seems to me that future detection would be increased if there were in place some regulatory regime."

ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said it was appalling that consumers were committed over the telephone to direct debit contracts that would ultimately cost them from $900 to $2,300 where there was no mobile service available to them.

"It seems the telemarketers had a flagrant disregard for the truth in their pursuit of customers. The telemarketing calls, which originated in India, were often received by indigenous consumers for whom English was a second language. This factor combined with the agreeable nature of many indigenous consumers made them an easy target.

"The misleading conduct was exacerbated when some customers rang to complain and were given no assistance. One customer in a remote indigenous community was told that he should try standing on his roof to obtain a signal in circumstances where the nearest reception was 230 kilometres away.
"Consumers are encouraged to sign up to the Do Not Call* register if they do not wish to receive telemarketing calls. Alternatively, if you don't like what is being said in a telemarketing call, just hang up."

The ACCC acknowledges the assistance of NT Consumer Affairs, and the Money Business office on Elcho Island in this matter.

*To register on the Do Not Call register phone 1300 792 958 or online at: https://www.donotcall.gov.au/

From the ACCC site:http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/810365/fromItemId/810627VIPtel mobile phone telemarketers misled consumers: refunds followThe Federal Court in Darwin today declared that VIPtel Mobile engaged in multiple breaches of the Trade Practices Act 1974 during telemarketing calls across Australia.Many customers were contracted to 24 month commitments while living in places without network coverage. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took action following complaints from remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. More than 150 customers with no network coverage will receive refunds and will be able to cancel contracts with no penalty as a result of the ACCC action.Other claims by VIPtel included:calls to any mobile or landline would be charged at the cost of a local call customers would pay no more than a capped monthly fee the mobile phones could be used to send pictures and access the internet without additional charges a customer would be able to terminate the plan at any time at no additional charge, and network coverage was available Australia-wide. The court found that none of these statements were true. Whilst many of the affected consumers were indigenous, non-indigenous consumers across Australia were also targeted.The court also declared the directors, Mr Manan Chopra and Mr Vishal Gupta aided, abetted, counselled or procured the contraventions of the Act by VIPtel.The company has been ordered:not to engage in the conduct again to arrange for the broadcast of a community service announcement in indigenous communities to educate consumers about telemarketing calls to implement a Trade Practices compliance program, and to pay costs of $50,000 to the ACCC.The company also provided court enforceable undertakings to the ACCC regarding refunds to consumers.In making the orders Justice Reeves said: "the most egregious aspect of EDirect's conduct was in its selling its mobile phones and service plans to people living in remote areas of Australia, including remote Aboriginal communities, when the slightest enquiry on its behalf would have disclosed that those mobile phones could not connect to the Optus GSM network because that network did not provide coverage to those remote areas of Australia."He further stated: "Similar observations could be made about EDirect's conduct in publishing statements and maps on the VIPtel website which clearly conveyed the impression that EDirect was able to provide mobile phone coverage to almost all of the Australian land mass. Again the slightest enquiry would have revealed to EDirect that this representation was quite untrue."He also said that: "The likelihood of detection of these sorts of breaches is slight, particularly in remote areas of Australia, and for that reason the full force of the law should be brought to bear in circumstances where, as is in this case, the authorities have managed to detect such breaches." He said that: "I enquired of the parties whether there was any regulatory regime in place that required telemarketing calls of the kind involved in this case to be recorded, especially where they involve oral contracts. It seems to me that future detection would be increased if there were in place some regulatory regime."ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said it was appalling that consumers were committed over the telephone to direct debit contracts that would ultimately cost them from $900 to $2,300 where there was no mobile service available to them. "It seems the telemarketers had a flagrant disregard for the truth in their pursuit of customers. The telemarketing calls, which originated in India, were often received by indigenous consumers for whom English was a second language. This factor combined with the agreeable nature of many indigenous consumers made them an easy target."The misleading conduct was exacerbated when some customers rang to complain and were given no assistance. One customer in a remote indigenous community was told that he should try standing on his roof to obtain a signal in circumstances where the nearest reception was 230 kilometres away."Consumers are encouraged to sign up to the Do Not Call* register if they do not wish to receive telemarketing calls. Alternatively, if you don't like what is being said in a telemarketing call, just hang up." The ACCC acknowledges the assistance of NT Consumer Affairs, and the Money Business office on Elcho Island in this matter.*To register on the Do Not Call register phone 1300 792 958 or online at: https://www.donotcall.gov.au/

Hi got call from this number and said that they are trying to help me to return my money back so confusing

i have been scam from this number related to viptel refund lost 1300 aqnybody can look into it and catch these scammers .track number

don't send any money call to accc first these guys are fraud ........!believe me ..