Scams like these

[prozac]

I wasn't ever an Optus customer. QF, Latitude, Origin

I think Origin leak was reported as a disgruntled Philippines call centre operator.

 

[prozac]

https://www.originenergy.com.au/about/investors-media/update-on-data-security-incident-aug21/

Origin hack investigation points to offshore Accenture employee

Like other major Australian companies, the electricity and gas supplier has outsourced key billing and customer support functions to the consulting and technology giant.

www.afr.com

 

[wandering_fred]

Greetings from Oman,
I’m reaching out regarding an ongoing tender for which we are
currently sourcing products from qualified suppliers.
We are interested in purchasing your products as part of this
tender and would appreciate it if you could send us your current
product catalog, available specifications, and pricing on an Ex
Works (EXW) basis.
At this stage, we are gathering supplier information and
assessing suitable products and commercial terms. If there is a
potential fit, we would be happy to discuss the tender
requirements, quantities, delivery arrangements, and any
applicable import or export documentation in more detail.
Could you also let us know whether your company has a sales
office, distributor, or authorized representative in Kazakhstan?
Please feel free to direct this inquiry to the appropriate person
in your sales or export department. We look forward to hearing
from you.
Best regards,
Khalfan Al Harthi
Buyer / Purchasing Representative
Oman

Reply is to a gmail address if you want your details to go wandering
Fred

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Greetings from Oman,
I’m reaching out regarding an ongoing tender for which we are
currently sourcing products from qualified suppliers.
We are interested in purchasing your products as part of this
tender and would appreciate it if you could send us your current
product catalog, available specifications, and pricing on an Ex
Works (EXW) basis.
At this stage, we are gathering supplier information and
assessing suitable products and commercial terms. If there is a
potential fit, we would be happy to discuss the tender
requirements, quantities, delivery arrangements, and any
applicable import or export documentation in more detail.
Could you also let us know whether your company has a sales
office, distributor, or authorized representative in Kazakhstan?
Please feel free to direct this inquiry to the appropriate person
in your sales or export department. We look forward to hearing
from you.
Best regards,
Khalfan Al Harthi
Buyer / Purchasing Representative
Oman

Reply is to a gmail address if you want your details to go wandering
Fred

Too scammy.
If you proceed, they might suck your ABN #, or your other business info, if you really do run a business.
Of course, you could play them a their own game, ie, give them fake info.

 

[AuSammy]

Thanks but Nah!!!!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Well worded must say tho.
And of course irl the Aus government is indeed cracking down on banks getting kyc and the other the other a stuff aml and ctf (that other things).

 

[Brissy1]

You never get any sort of interest back for these things.

I'm no Business person, but in Businesses with the ability to leverage it, isn't it worthwhile financially to get access to money sooner?

So if "they" (where "they" can be providing anything with a meter) are over-estimating a bunch of usage counts, they're making money out of it, even if they pay you back after a few months or a year or whatever.

I have the same suspicions, in fact the now widespread 1 month estimate bills rather than 3 month actual bill I feel is for the same purpose, and is a pain for most consumers.

 

[clifford]

Thanks but Nah!!!!

What's wrong with that? You don't have a Wise account?

 

[AuSammy]

What's wrong with that? You don't have a Wise account?

1. Comes from blatantly obvious confected email address

2. No name, membership number or anything else in the message that tells me they even know who I am or if I have an account.

 

[SYD]

1. Comes from blatantly obvious confected email address

2. No name, membership number or anything else in the message that tells me they even know who I am or if I have an account.

I get them to an email address not associated to my banking accounts….

 

[prozac]

Went to login to my Mygov acct today and locked out. When I called I was told it is likely an access attempt was made post Origin hack. New login method provided.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not a scam, but re: billing, esp smart meters, the card surcharge, over the years is a lot, if having to pay by card.
But still a hoodwink.
Not sure what the utility companies will do now, that card surcharges are at a min/illegal.
3 months billing, means, if we pay the account per 3 months, only have to pay the card surcharge once, but since monthly smart meter came in, I have been paying via card, every month, those few cents, over a year, its a lot.
Paying a bill at Auspost, also has a fee.
Some utilities do not want to debit a transaction account, they want debit card/credit cards.
===

Went to login to my Mygov acct today and locked out. When I called I was told it is likely an access attempt was made post Origin hack. New login method provided.

If you 3 pieces of id, you can use digital id to log in, and not email or password.
But the trouble is, all our info, the scammers can also use, if they have info on passports/dl/Medicare card #, etc.
(((Maybe ATO should be taken out of Mygov, and have it separately on its own))).
===

 

[prozac]

Got a call from Wyoming USA today. I have a family member in US so I answered but a did the scam trick of saying nothing for a few seconds. It hung up at about 2 seconds so definitely a scam. Number begins +1 307 204 ****

 

[prozac]

Got a call from Wyoming USA today. I have a family member in US so I answered but a did the scam trick of saying nothing for a few seconds. It hung up at about 2 seconds so definitely a scam. Number begins +1 307 204 ****

Just received another from an unidentified +1 number. 2 second silence rule it hung up.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just received another from an unidentified +1 number. 2 second rule it hung up.

Must be popular!

 

[Forg]

Likely the same call-centre, prolly spoofing random US numbers this week.

 

[prozac]

And so it starts:

You have a new task in your Medicare inbox

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 20:52:17 -0700

Medicare <no-reply at careen.uk>

no-reply at careen.uk

You have a new message in your Medicare inbox

Click Open Link to complete task

Regards, Medicare Team.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

The +1 could be a Wangiri from the US linked countries, ie, /eg, Bahamas, its +1 242...
CND phones are not that expensive, and all these modern ones, will pick up on missed calls.
You dont have to answer, but just to know, and trace call countries, can even keep a list.
Albania used to the ones that called, one ring then the other side put down the phone.

 

[Forg]

^ It’s pretty irrelevant what the “calling number” appears to be, it’s not a real number and it wasn’t ever bought or subscribed-to by the organisation who is really calling you.

If it happens to be a real number, that’s entirely coincidental; it’s randomly generated when they call you.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

it’s randomly generated when they call you.

Does the random aspect apply to the country code as well, or is that part mostly reliable?