ACMA Urges Australians to Report Spam and Unwanted Telemarketing Phone Calls

­A survey commissioned by the Australian Communications and Media Authority indicates nearly two in five Australians with mobile phones or an email account (39%) were unaware of who to contact to complain about spam email and SMS, while almost half the population (47%) were not sure where to direct complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls.

"The Survey into Community Attitudes to Unsolicited Communications, shows that while there is a strong level of awareness and understanding about spam and unwanted telemarketing calls, taking action by lodging a complaint isn't as well understood," said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA.

"It's actually very simple to lodge a complaint," Mr Chapman added. 'For unsolicited telemarketing calls, contact the Do Not Call Register on 1300 792 958 or log on to www.donotcall.gov.au and follow the links to Enquiries and Complaints. "For spam messages, contact the ACMA's Anti-Spam Team on 1300 855 180 or log on to www.spam.acma.gov.au and follow the links to Lodge a Complaint."

"If we don't receive complaints, then the ACMA cannot protect consumers' rights. Over the past two years, as a direct result of complaints the ACMA has uncovered significant breaches of the Spam Act 2003 and the Do Not Call Register Act 2006. Subsequent investigations have resulted in financial penalties, warnings, enforceable undertakings and even Federal Court action."

Mr Chapman also noted that May 2010 marks the third anniversary of the launch of the Do Not Register. "From this time, entries on the register will begin to expire. This is because numbers can only be on the register for three years and are then automatically removed if not renewed."

To date, more than 3.7 million Australians have registered their phone numbers and the ACMA has recorded a 60 per cent reduction in complaints received about the telemarketing industry.

Posted to the site on 13th October 2009