ACMA cracks down on fake dating profiles

Tim Burrowes

June 1, 2009 2:45

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has obtained a court order banning a mobile provider from creating fake profiles on dating sites in order to trick people into SMSing premium rate numbers.

ACMA launched proceedings against Mobilegate, Winning Bid, Jobspy and named individuals accusing them of breaching the Spam Act.

It alleged they were using “fabricated dating profiles, to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage or gain from Australian mobile telephone account holders”.

It claimed that users of dating websites were enticed to reply to premium rate numbers where they would be charged five dollars per message.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.

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3 COMMENTS

About time 1 Jun 09

Well they took their time but at least they are doing something about it. How is this not fraud or obtaining funds by deception? The people who they duped shoud have their money refunded. My friends and I have had several wine induced discussions on whether the people on these sites really exist, now our stupur conspiracy theories have been confirmed.

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Now what? 1 Jun 09

Are you telling me that I now have no hope of finding a girlfriend? 🙁

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