DC marketing: The next round
It’s about time we had another update in regards to our “good” friends at DC Marketing. They threw a curve ball at us recently by cutting down on the number of calls they have been making - but it looks like it didn’t last long and they are back at it. Not only are they back, but it looks as if they may have a couple of new numbers on the list! WOW, great work lads.
By now we all know that they ACCC will not/can’t do anything about the spam DC Marketing is sending us (see DC marketing: Round 3) so over the next couple of weeks 4 Wise Monkeys will be going to the media doorsteps, but wait there is more. 4WM will also be going to the goverments, local - state - federal.
Keep the word of mouth happening regarding this website:http://www.4wisemonkeys.com/dc-phone-scam/ All the latest updates will be posted stright there. DC Marketing are powerless against word of mouth - keep spreading and reporting. EVERY bit of information will be used to help stop them.
-
I just received a missed call from them this afternoon 95405 189. I Googled the number out of curiosity and ended up on this site.
ST says...March 26th, 2006 at 6:26 pm -
Add me to the list of early-morning call receivers. Glad I googled the number and found this site - good to know there are vigilant scam-hunters like you guys looking out for these things. Cheers.
Wazza says...March 27th, 2006 at 2:34 pm -
I received a call at 0928 28th March 2006 from 03 9540 5189. Tried to ring it and was a dead end, so googled the number and this is where I ended up. Pretty disappointed with the marketing strategies of thrid world business operators. You think they could go out and get jobs!!
I happy to support there demise!!
Dusty says...March 28th, 2006 at 9:24 am -
I got a call last night (27/3/06) ~ 9:15PM on my mobile.
The number was from 9540 5189 (Springvale phone prefix in Melbourne)
Sharing this information, regardless of it’s fragmentary nature, is enough to target us further.
How do we know that you’re not involved?
What’s your interest in this scam?
Why do you need our email address for?
Is this a way of tracking us as well?
P says...March 28th, 2006 at 9:49 am -
28/03/06 @ 11.03am EST (I’m in Brisbane)Just got spammed by 03 9450 5189- it rang momentarily, then stopped before I could answer. My Optus mobile starts with 0403.
I’m afraid my suspicions extend to you, too, how can we be sure you’re not collecting our email addresses also? Sorry to be cynical but it pays to be cautious these days.
Kitty says...March 28th, 2006 at 11:13 am -
@P & Kitty: That’s a fair enouth call - the only reason an email address is asked to to help filter out spam comments etc. There is no chance we will ever use the email addresses for impropper use. I’ll throw up a privacy policy if it will ease your mind.
@P: My interest in this, is to make it publicly knowen what DC Marketing are doing in an effort to put a stop to the spamming they are doing.
If no one takes a stand against company’s like this.. the situation will get 100% worse - they called be at a bad time, so I’ve decided to be the one to stand against them.
March 28th, 2006 at 11:53 am -
You sound as bad as them.
In fact, you sound exactly like them.If you wanted to make this public you would be creating more of a wave instead of this little corner on the web.
So your little experiment is working for the time being. Advertising your website has worked thus far and we can help to promote it further by spreading the meme.
We’re all infected by it somehow.
~~
So where’s that privacy policy????
P says...March 28th, 2006 at 1:42 pm -
Hey guys,
Great work. I, like many others, missed a call from 0395405189. Having just visited Melbourne I thought it maybe something to do with the recent visit. I rang the number from home, got the engaged tone, and finally “googled” the number and found your website.
I cant believe that the ACCC or the Aust Government cant do anything about this scam.
Keep up the posts.
Cheers
Danny says...March 28th, 2006 at 10:01 pm -
Hiya,
Thanks so much for setting this site up. I “googled” the number and voila’! I found your site.
My missed call was from 03 9540 5189 at 18:55 this evening and my mobile number starts with 0403, I have had it for about 6 years and I am with Optus.
Cheers,
Lisa
Lisa says...March 29th, 2006 at 6:07 pm -
P: How does “There is no chance we will ever use the email addresses for impropper use” and “My interest in this, is to make it publicly knowen what DC Marketing are doing in an effort to put a stop to the spamming they are doing” sound like “them”.
Tone it down on the conspiracy theories… If anything you sound like “them” trying to discredit the fight against DC Marketing.
M says...March 30th, 2006 at 10:57 am -
late, I know
got called by 03 9540 5189 a week or so ago, in the afternoon, and someone else in my house just got a missed call from the same number at about midday today.getting a VIC number that we don’t recognise is always odd cos we live in SA. but I was actually in melbourne a couple of months ago and we were using those mobiles (starting with 0402 & 0403) to keep contact. don’t know if that’s helpful, I think it’s kind of curious because I remember reading a warning post on a forum about the scam before I left and it was only after I went to melb. that I actually got called. hmm.
astabar says...April 1st, 2006 at 12:54 pm -
Okay so what’s the deal with sending me harassing emails then?
Sure.
Your best defense is to set it up as if I am one of them. Thanks for that. I’ll tell me flatmate about it too. He got a call from the likes of those numbers yesterday @ 2:15pm. Totally wound me up though.No conspiracy theories from my end. Just pissed off.
Pete says...April 4th, 2006 at 1:59 pm -
Just got a missed call from 03 9540 5189, googled it and wound up here. Sydney time 3.33pm. Mob number starts with 0407 but took my old Telsta number to Vodaphone recently. Hope you get ‘em.
MW says...April 5th, 2006 at 3:52 pm -
After five calls from DC Marketing in the last year I received a a call and text from them this afternoon 5th April 06. From number 03 9281 5800. Rang back but call cannot be connected?
If anyone finds an address for them please let me know.
Rob
Robert says...April 6th, 2006 at 1:55 am -
*some information has been removed via a request by DC Marketing*
HAVE FOUND ADDRESS and their WEBSITE !!
In Australia its postal address is: PO Box 994, Spit Junction 2088, NSW
but it is a UK limited Company. *edited* and their address is: 69 Great Hampton Street, BIRMINGHAM, B18 6EW, UK
*edited*
*edited*
*edited*
*edited*
DC Marketing have a web site its: http://www.dc-marketing.net
On this website it listes the UK comapny address as: 39/40 Calthorpe Road
B15 1ITS Birmingham/West
Midlands
UK
*edited*Not much we can do to stop it. *edited*
*edited*
*edited*
Robert says...April 6th, 2006 at 3:55 am -
That is some EXTEMLY useful information Robert~ I knew they has some links to the UK side of things, but that information you have found will go a long long way.
As for the Birmingham or Hall connection, I will see if I can find a relative over there to follow up on the lead.
As for an FOI request at AusPost - I feel there would be a very goood case to gain access to the information and should be followed up. A $30 fee is fine with me, anything to put these scum down.
April 6th, 2006 at 10:36 am -
Hi again.
After a few phone calls I found out who resides at 39/40 Calthorpe Rd, Birmingham - of course its not DC Marketing Europe!
Its Clement Keys Chartered Accountants who say they are the only people at that address. They dont have DC Marketing even as a client or TC Marketing or the other 6 Ltd companies that are using that address.
There is only one 39/40 Calthorpe Rd in Birmingham.Rang the London Stock Exchange which gave me the number to Companies House which hold all the registry info for all businesses. I have to write a letter to them stating the address is wrong and they will investigate.
The FOI and the Companies letters will have to wait until next week - I’m off to Shepp for a wedding over the weekend.
PS I wrongly misquoted the phone number I mentioned in my first blog, it wasn’t 03 9281 5800.
Robert says...April 7th, 2006 at 1:45 am -
Have you managed to contact “Go Ahead Services Ltd”? 69 Great Hampton Street, BIRMINGHAM, B18 6EW, UK. I would assume, they would have a correct address???
If you have MSN Messenger, I would be delighted to talk to you more about this in detail.
April 7th, 2006 at 7:01 am -
I had a missed call from the same number as everybody else and did the same thing, googled it and here i am. The call was at some ungodly hour as i had alread gone to sleep and only saw the missed call this morning when i got up. I was in melbourne for the grand prix and thought i had left something somewhere but after reading this site it appears not. my mobile number isn’t listed in the yellow/white pages so i don’t know how they got it. hope my info helps in someway.
Nina says...April 10th, 2006 at 11:41 am -
sorry, forgot to mention in my last msg that my number starts with 0407 and i am with telstra.
Nina says...April 10th, 2006 at 11:45 am -
Recieved call tonight at 9.24 pm from 03 9540 5189 - one ring and stopped.
Mobile # is 0407 Revolution (It’s a Vodaphone offshoot)
Pete says...April 10th, 2006 at 8:48 pm -
Duh! Daylight saving has ended … Yeah ok, I’ll turn my phone clock back an hour now.
Pete says...April 10th, 2006 at 8:52 pm -
3:44pm Melbourne time.
1 ring only from 03 95405189.
0408 Optus number. Company phone. Had it for 5 years or more.
Has anybody tried looking up the IPND to find out where this number is terminated?
Leigh says...April 12th, 2006 at 4:03 pm -
19:50 Melbourne time.
from 03 9540 5189My number is an 0408… Unfortunately mine *is* in the phone book, but it looks pretty obvious they are working their way through the digits.
Telemarketers, et al, should be paintballed in the nuts!
April 12th, 2006 at 9:52 pm -
I registed the domain http://www.aus-phone-scams.com a while ago after I was stung by the crappy xmas joke sms, but havent had time to develope anything for it yet.
Could you please contact me, If you wouldnt mind id like to point it at this address but wanted to check first..
Cheers and good luck with the work so far,
anon for now says...April 12th, 2006 at 10:41 pm -
I also got these calls that Whirlpool mods deleted
It was on the 6th of april and form 03 9540 5189
I want to complain to the ACC
Paul says...April 13th, 2006 at 8:17 am -
My mums number starts with 0408 and she get a call from the same number the other day. My number starts with 0408 but it is further along than hers. My theory is that they are clearly giving one ring to all numbers in sequence. We shall find out soon, my brother number is 0410 and close to the current ringing numbers. This is quite annoying. about time someone did something!
Mike says...April 13th, 2006 at 6:13 pm -
Call from 03 9540 5189 on Friday 14 April 11.23am
My phone 0408
chris says...April 14th, 2006 at 12:12 pm -
Got a call from 03 9540 5189 at 13.11pm today (15.4.06).
Didn’t recognise the number so I Googled it and found this web page.
My mobile number begins with 0408
Katie says...April 15th, 2006 at 3:44 pm -
hey guys,
just got pranked this afternoon 16.4.06 by 0395405189, my number begins with 0408, i’m also not in victoria… and i googled and found this page. have been pranked in the past by a similar number too
Jason says...April 16th, 2006 at 8:39 pm -
Hi,
got a call from 03 9540 5189 yesterday (16.4.06). I’m lucky i searched the web first before trying the number. Thanks guys.My number is 0408 (Telstra)
Steve says...April 17th, 2006 at 7:03 am -
I just got one of these calls at 12:33:57 on 17/4/06, from 03 9540 5189. Heard it ring for a split second.
As with many others I googled to find this page.
My number is 0408 54 (Telstra).
April 17th, 2006 at 1:22 pm -
KingBean, my number starts with the same digits and I got the missed call at around the same time. Clearly they’re working their way through all numbers.
I wish something could be done to stop this sort of thing!
Matt says...April 18th, 2006 at 12:33 am -
Got a call yesterday (17/4/2006) at 16:49 from 0395405189.
My number starts with 0408 (Telstra).
Peter says...April 18th, 2006 at 8:40 pm -
Just got a missed call from 03 95405189.My call was at exactly 9.08pm. Must have only rang once as I didnt even notice. Called it back and got a recorded message which i quickly hung up on. My number starts with 0408.
I live in Queensland and am with Telstra. Have had my number for 6 years.
How strange??????
Michella says...April 18th, 2006 at 9:55 pm -
I also received a missed call from 03 9540 5189 at 4:13pm this afternoon. My number starts with 0408, I live in Qld and I’m on Telstra.
If only there was something that could be done to block these phony calls!
Bronwyn says...April 19th, 2006 at 4:40 pm -
my number starts with o4o9
R says...April 21st, 2006 at 10:42 am -
Got my call at midday!
My number starts with 0409Everybody should go to a Payphone and put no money in and just ring the number, hopefully it fucks up their scam!
April 21st, 2006 at 9:12 pm -
Got my call at midday!
My number starts with 0409Everybody should go to a Payphone and put no money in and just ring the number, hopefully it halts their scam!
April 21st, 2006 at 9:13 pm -
googled “8102 9565″ and arrived at this site. same tactics by those #%$#$% scammers. hope the ACCC will bring them down.
anonymous says...April 21st, 2006 at 9:51 pm -
I got my call at 7:00am today!!
thepretenda says...April 22nd, 2006 at 9:45 am -
I just got my call..
I googled the number and ended up at this site.
My number starts with 0409
What kind of bullsh!t is this!
Luke says...April 22nd, 2006 at 3:59 pm -
I’m in Perth. Got a call tonight at 7.44pm from 03 9540 5189.
My mobile number is about 7 years old and is 0409 (Telstra).
Found an article about this on the WA Dept of Consumer Affairs website (Dated Januaary 2006):
http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/Corporate/Media/statements/2006/January/Ring_up_big_bill_wit.html
LTM says...April 23rd, 2006 at 11:28 pm -
had a missed call last night from that number, I have an optus number starting with 0409.
wes says...April 24th, 2006 at 1:37 pm -
Got a call from 03 95405189 at 3:50 PM. I have a o4o9-3xx-xxx (Telstra) number, at least 8-10 years old. I guess if we post the next digit after the first four we can get an idea of where they are up to? Sorry I’m bored. I’m gonna call that number whenever I can for free from a payphone
Sam says...April 24th, 2006 at 10:06 pm -
That number (03)9540 5189 turned up on my husbands mobile, and not recognising the number…I too Googled it and was brought here. The number is silent, with Optus and begins with 0403.
pixxi says...April 25th, 2006 at 8:18 pm -
I just got one. 11:17:51am Melbourne time. from 0395405189. I was told by my partner about this scam only last night, and hence didn’t ring them back like I would have (the number is similar to personnel numbers for my work).
my number begins 0409 and is with telstra. had it about 6 years. not listed in the phone book or anything, and I am always very careful about who i give or allow to have my number.
liz says...April 26th, 2006 at 11:35 am -
hey guys,
(26-04-06)
i just got a call this arvo at just before 7… it was from 0395405189… i live in rocky and all my relatives live in brisbane… i haven’t been anywhere lately… not 2 melbourne or even nsw… my thery is that they are going through our numbers… if you look closly they first start ringing numbers begining wid 0403… my number starts wid 0409… they are slowly ringing all the numbers…
cheers… i hope that can b of some assistance
Jas says...April 26th, 2006 at 6:52 pm -
I’m in Adelaide and have a Telstra number starting 0409 (about 7 yrs old) Found a missed call message(24/4/06 - 17.44p.m.) with the 0395 405 189 number - it definitely didn’t ring any bells with me. I Googled and got to this site.
lizthorn says...April 27th, 2006 at 4:29 pm -
Just got a nanosecond of a call on my Australian Phone (an 0409 number)…..so I understandably wasn’t quick enough to answer it. The time was 20:35 on 28/4/06.
I don’t have any Victoria connections and so I put the phone number (03 9540 5189) into google to see if I could find the caller and struck upon the missed call scam!!!
Hope this helps……needless to say I won’t be returning their call!!
>>> And if the Govt. can’t sort these scams out - what are they there for!?
Ken says...April 28th, 2006 at 8:48 pm -
i too just received a call from that number, my phone is a yr old, telstra ‘0409′ number.
nice work guys,
ryan says...April 29th, 2006 at 4:04 pm -
i just got the call this morning at about 10-30…. my number starts with 0409… what the hell is it all about?????
Jakey says...April 30th, 2006 at 1:38 pm -
I received a call on 29/4/06 at 20.57. My number starts with 0409. Have only had the Telstra account for a week. I googled the number to see who had rung me - thanks for this site.
Jill says...May 1st, 2006 at 12:30 pm -
So guys… any news? A Current Affair taken up the fight yet?
M says...May 1st, 2006 at 6:31 pm -
My phome showed an unanswered call. Didn’t know the caller so googled the number. Thank you for your insight into phone scams. My number starts with 0409. jut had the number for a week - a Telstra casual plan. The call came through at 20.57 on 29/4/06. Thamks again.
Jill says...May 1st, 2006 at 9:53 pm -
ha~~ google is great~~
got a call just today at 10:55, call time of 00:00(?)
my no. starts with 0410
C says...May 4th, 2006 at 11:05 am -
I received a call on 05-05-2006 at 1245. My number starts with 0415. I googled the number to see who had rung me - thanks for this site.
Seth says...May 5th, 2006 at 4:18 pm -
Just received a call from them this morning while I was asleep (thankfully the phone was on silent). Like everyone else, I googled the number and came here. The time of call was 9:30 am.
David says...May 6th, 2006 at 11:33 am -
Got a missed call 0395405189 yesterday at 12:15pm, didnt call back but looked it up on the web…. i cant believe it, phone scams… whats next?? my number starts with 0410 and im with vodafone.
kristie says...May 6th, 2006 at 12:10 pm -
I just got a missed call from 03 9540 5189 - my number starts with 0410 and is with vodafone too.
Emma says...May 6th, 2006 at 2:17 pm -
I got a missed call while I was asleep this morning at 11:04. It was from 03 9540 5189. My number is 0410 7xx xxx VOdafone.
Very odd.
Paul says...May 6th, 2006 at 3:27 pm -
missed call 16:13, rang once then hung up
(03) 9540 5189
have had them call a few months ago as well at 6am…
i’m with vodafone 0410….
jaz says...May 6th, 2006 at 6:16 pm -
Got spammed second time, decided to google it…voila
Melburnian w/ Vodafone 0410 number
call time: 7:40pm EST
Jaidee says...May 6th, 2006 at 8:13 pm -
I just checked my phone and had a missed call from that number!!
Im a bit confused here… what were they callin for?
vodafone 0410 92 xxxx
Megan says...May 7th, 2006 at 10:24 pm -
8102 9565
virgin mobile prefix: 0432
lou says...May 8th, 2006 at 11:39 am -
It doesn’t matter what number you have, if you gave your phone number to somebody, chances are thats why you got this call.
Should be listing companies that you have given your mobile to.http://www.drive.com.au - BMW Comp (i think thats how DC Marketing got my number)
billy bryan says...May 8th, 2006 at 10:54 pm -
Thanks for the info
Didn’t call back!
Batty says...May 9th, 2006 at 12:46 pm -
I don’t give out my mobile number to anything that I subscribe to, unless it is absolutely required like with Optus or Foxtel etc.
I am curious about the fact that a lot of people had recently been in Victoria/Melbourne.I have only in the last two weeks, been in Victoria and used my phone to dial family members in Sydney and a couple of Melbourne numbers while I was there.
I was contacted (a 1 ring missed call) last night: 0395405189 was the number.
Last year when I was in Victoria, the same thing happened. It was again this exact same number. I kept it on my mobile.
Last year, I too thought, as my business was an emergency that something had gone wrong and I returned the call to find no response. It scared the hell out of me last year and I spent the best part of one evening making sure that family members I had left were okay.
It was only today that I Googled the number and found this web site…
Stuff like this should be stopped…
Angelina says...May 9th, 2006 at 1:31 pm -
I just got it the call as well - pains in the you kow what!
Kelly says...May 9th, 2006 at 2:20 pm -
I just checked my mobile and had a missed call from 9540 5189 this morning. Out of curiosity, I thought I would google it to see if it was a business as it wasn’t in my address book and came across this site.
My number starts with 0411 - so I guess they’re working through the numbers by the look of it.
Kay says...May 9th, 2006 at 2:37 pm -
Missed calls occured twice from 0395405189 on my mobile - starts with 0411. Also happened on my wife’s phone with 0411 prefix. Yep, they’re working through the list. So is there a link to this scam and the German/ Austrian/ UK details posted above? This would make a great story for a Current Affair etc.
Cheers,
George
May 10th, 2006 at 8:07 pm -
Received a missed call twice from number 03 95405 189. Last night at 10.30pm and on the 8th May 2006 at 8.30pm. I Googled the number out of curiosity and ended up on this site.
Sharon says...May 11th, 2006 at 9:39 am -
Imagine what would happen to them if loads of people sent them mail without postage….they would find Australia Post breathing down their necks then. It would be a great way to get revenge!
Of course, that would be illegal, and so naturally I advise you all not to do it.
Gary says...May 11th, 2006 at 1:30 pm -
I received 2 missed calls from the number ” 0395405189 ” looks as though this is from postcode 3171 or 3166.
I called the number back, it rang and a voice recording started “Hi I’m Simon, oops, did we you miss our call” or something along those lines… then “Congratulations, you have won a prize, grab a pen and a paper… write down this number.. 1902… etc etc” I hung up before the end of it.
My number starts with 0411, Lucky I’m a manager at Telstra, and my partner is a lawyer at the ACCC.
DD says...May 11th, 2006 at 7:49 pm -
I received one missing call from 03 95405189 on 06 May 06′ at 11.50am. Didn’t end up calling back, and decided to google it and ended up here, like many others. My number starts with 0410 but I’m with voda o_o
May 11th, 2006 at 8:56 pm -
I was called by 0395405189 also on 11/6/06 at 9am and on 8/5/06 at 10:09pm.. Lucky i didnt ring it back… today I also got a message saying free ringtones, and it wanted to connect me to WAP.
Nick Cox says...May 11th, 2006 at 10:52 pm -
I got called from 0395405189 at 8:45 this morning. I did call them (but not the 1-900 number. My number is unregistered, but i wanted to find out more about this and i ended up at this place. great work guys. Without you lot i would have been in the dark on what they are up to.
*edited by request of DC Marketing*
Still thanks to you guys for informing the ‘public’.Have a great weekend.
Lawrence says...May 12th, 2006 at 9:08 am -
Yep I got two phone calls from 0395405189. First one was yesterday (11 May 2006) at around 9:10am. The second one was today (12 May 2006) at around 11:30am. Did the same as everyone else and googled the number and came here. My number is a 0411 number. People are saying it is a scam but very few are elaborating what the scam actually is. Do they want people to phone them back or are they simply looking up numbers to see which ones exist? If they are just looking up numbers why ring me 2 mornings in a row?
Has anyone tried ringing telstra or anyone of note to see if they can do something about it, or even if they know something about it?
Mathew says...May 12th, 2006 at 12:31 pm -
Got the same number calling me - maybe they generate business by people calling them back, maybe theres a toll on the line. Nobody out of this whole thread actually answered the phone and talked to them, they always hang up immediately - in an attempt to get you to call them back.
Probably if someone had spoken to them - they would not have curiously searched the web….
some people are naturally curious and some are not
simo says...May 12th, 2006 at 4:29 pm -
Got a call from 0395405189 (half ring, didn’t have a chance to answer)
Carmen says...May 12th, 2006 at 8:04 pm -
I noticed a missed call on my phone - strange because it didn’t even ring. I have always made a point of NEVER answering a call from a number I don’t know or from one that is witheld. I googled the number and ended up here. My number starts with 0411 and is with Optus.
Lesley says...May 14th, 2006 at 10:44 am -
my son got a call from 0395405189..did a google and here i am…this number has not been handed out to ANY companies as it is a new number and has only been used for about 3 weeks..the only people with the number are a handful of friends and me…i’d say they are calling numbers at random…
May 15th, 2006 at 1:25 pm -
Bron,
yup. We are pretty certain that they call numbers in a decrementing fashion…
May 15th, 2006 at 1:48 pm -
Hi,
I got a call on my 3 phone, starting with 0433 7xx xxx.
11:06 yesterday, the 15-May-2006Googled the number, and the rest, as they say, is history.
D
dwen92 *at* gmail {Dot} com
Deon says...May 16th, 2006 at 12:14 pm -
0411 Optus number, got a call from a number I haven’t seen here twice - 03 9540 5187 (not 5189). Calls today came through at 11:30am and 6:35pm, both WST, and rang once then hung up.
Raffles says...May 16th, 2006 at 9:05 pm -
I’m on optus and got pranked 11/5/2006 around 11PM and 12/5/2006 around 9:30am. called back on private work number and got a “Did I call you? If so, you’ve just won..”
0395405189
First entry on google for this number.
Dave Withnall says...May 16th, 2006 at 11:06 pm -
just got one of these from no
0381029565
these pricks have to be stopped
pete says...May 19th, 2006 at 6:57 pm -
Like all ‘new things’ I’d say nobody has considered putting legislation in place to take care of such unsavoury marketing practices. I just received such a call from 028402236 - rang it back only to be certain it was a spammer before I write to my local member. I urger anybody who REALLY wants to do something about this latest unethical practice to contact their local member. Try http://www.aec.gov.au/esearch/main.htm if you don’t know who your local member is…then hit the directory http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-alpha.asp to get contact details. My e-mail to my local member looked something like this:
Dear Mr/Hon your MP’s name here
I am contacting you as a constituent of the Fraser electorate in order to raise the issue of mobile phone marketing practices. I received a call from 02 8404 2236 to my mobile phone at 8.28pm last night (22/5/06). Some research on the number suggested to me that this was a call from a marketing company, whose practice it is to contact random mobile phone numbers, then hang up immediately - tempting the mobile phone user to contact the ‘missed call’ number given. Should the user attempt to return the call they are then connected to an automated answering service urging them to call another number in order to participate in some competition or marketing exercise.
It seems to me that this sort of practice would cost very little to the marketing firm - the call charges rest with the mobile phone user after all. If left unchecked, this could pose a threat to the usability of our domestic mobile communications networks, and at the very least constitutes misleading and unethical marketing behaviour. The caller does not identify themselves in the initial call and relies on this fact to induce the recipient to call back!
The issue I have described seems to be reasonably wide spread, and I hope you will be able to direct my concerns to the appropriate minister or agency for consideration.
Feel free to provide corrections/suggestions
Bodean says...May 23rd, 2006 at 9:27 am -
Okay. I saw the article in the paper 2 days ago about DC marketing.
I’m still frustrated by their persistence.
Last night every household member as well as the landline received 2 missed calls each between 6 and 9pm.
What is the point of making these inane pranks when it’s obvious a scam?
The numbers the perpetrators are using are too obvious. Every one of my friends has been afflicted by this pestilence.
It has gone too far. We must revolt.
Pete says...May 24th, 2006 at 2:33 pm -
OK, so what are the contact details for DC marketing? How many web spam sites do we have to sign their email adresses up for before their server falls over?
Random5 says...May 29th, 2006 at 1:37 pm -
Just got one on my 0403 number from 8404 2215 bastards.
wfo78 says...June 7th, 2006 at 12:52 pm -
Got a call from 02 8404 2215 on Thursday 1/6 then Monday 5/6 which I thought I should probably return the call, and it was my lucky day too. Googled the number today and here I am. Registering my hope that this crap doesn’t continue in future.
Blackbird2 says...June 7th, 2006 at 1:36 pm -
both myself an my husband have both been victims to this, as have many other people i know. o4o2 in april & 0414 21/05/06
regarding post made by “random05″….. i agree!!!!! if everyone who has posted on this forum was to sign dc marketing up to 1 or 2 spam sites each then they would get a taste of their own medicine….. who’s up for the challenge?
now all we need is a contact for them…..
d00bette says...June 9th, 2006 at 5:39 pm -
I’d also report this (if you are a Telstra Mobile coustomer) via http://www.telstra.com.au/unwelcome-calls
That is, if no one has thought of it.
I checked my missed calls and I had two of them: 0284042236, 0395405189
Next visit, the ACCC.
Mark says...June 16th, 2006 at 6:38 pm -
I received a missed call from
(02)8404 2207 on 21/06/06 at 8:35 pm
(03)5480 1813 (07/05/06 @ 6:13 pm)
(03)9326 1136 (15/02/06 @ 1:20 pm)
(03)9326 1137 (15/02/06 @ 5:44 pm)
(03)8302 3080 (20/11/05 @ 3:41 pm)A text from 0431100682 (09/05/06 7:00 pm)
reading “hi tom ou est tu choc croissant getting stale slurpee mach ooo”Aside from the poor french grammar - this is pretty sneaky. I didn’t reply to any of them.
Andy says...June 22nd, 2006 at 7:28 pm -
im only 13 and i got credit because i needed to contact my mum in england and i replied to that number and all my credit was gone. my mum was furious and it wasnt my fault. being a kid i have no money.also my little sister,brittany is only 9 and she called back to one of those numbers and got scammed. 9 years old!!!!!!!!
brooke says...June 26th, 2006 at 7:45 am -
this has been going on for some months now, and the media have only just begun to spread the word.
what annoys me, is that i am not prepaid, i am contract and yet i still get text messages telling me i have free ringtones and such.
i will be happy when the pass the blacklist phone list bill, soi can go on it, but then how do we know it isn’t just a government conspiracy theory to database us all?? LPL
Ivalaine says...June 26th, 2006 at 6:25 pm -
0284042207 was one of the scam numbers i’ve received, but doesn’t seem to come up on google, so here it goes
Ivalaine says...June 26th, 2006 at 6:28 pm -
Yep, I had one of 02 8404 2207 late on the 30/6/06 and my husband had one of the same number this morning (1/7/06)
Daisy says...July 1st, 2006 at 10:25 am -
Hi, got a call from this one this morning: 0284042207, googled it and found your site, thanks!
There have been others, but unfortunately no longer in my call logs to publish for others safety. 15/07/06
Cat says...July 15th, 2006 at 2:32 pm -
Yep, just got a call from 0284042207. single ring. thought i’d better google it after hearing about the scam.
Ian says...July 18th, 2006 at 11:46 am -
Hi, got a call at 6pm while eating tea. I googled it and found your site. I will copy the numbers you have given us. I have a rule not to dial numbers that I do not recognise or are not a contact in my mobile phone number list. Was called on Tursday 19 July 2006.
Steven says...July 19th, 2006 at 10:36 pm -
Company Name: REWOTEC LIMITED
Company Type:
Limited CompanyCompany No:
05045137Company Address:
REWOTEC LIMITED
39/40 Calthorpe Road
BIRMINGHAM
B15 1TS
Date:
03/06/2007In Germany:
REWOTEC LTD
Hansestra
aFriend says...June 3rd, 2007 at 10:13 pm -
[...] phone conversation with the ACCC: DC marketing: Round 3 (10th February 2006) Let’s fight it: DC Marketing: The Next Round (24th March 2006) DC Marketing interrupts 4WM bday: damn DC Marketing (25th March 2006) Monthly DC [...]
April 24th, 2008 at 6:57 am
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