I am posing this question to any Spark representatives who may monitor this forum. It is with reference to my other posting on the subject https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=125&topicid=249107 

The question is why does Spark not take action to shutdown the perpetrators of the 0900 scams which are fleecing unsuspecting and vulnerable people of large amounts of money. There is absolutely no doubt that these scammers are in breach of Spark's 0900 Policy in a number of ways. Here are just a few points:

• In one instance, they present themselves as Countdown supermarket chain, purporting to offer prizes of Countdown gift cards. Countdown themselves have made press releases denying any involvement with the scammers.
• They do not have the Opening Message on the phone call in accordance with the Policy.
• The 0900 service is not priced at a level which reflects the likely value provided to the user of the service.
• Their sole purpose is to take peoples' money by way of a confidence trick.
• They bring Spark's 0900 system into disrepute.

In my view, Spark by clipping the ticket on the money transfers is complicit in the scam activity, and is every bit as guilty of making earnings by scam activity as the scammers themselves. A cynic could be forgiven for thinking that this income is significant enough for Spark to be happy to turn a blind eye to the activity.

It simply is not good enough for a major New Zealand company to allow its services to be used and abused in such a way.