QLD Ex Using My Phone Number Without Consent - Identity Theft?

Australia's #1 for Law
Join 150,000 Australians every month. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today!
FREE - Join Now

ithaca

Member
30 August 2016
3
0
1
My ex has been signing up to various company sites (credit cards, charities, insurance, telemarketers, etc, etc) and giving them my phone number without my consent. These companies in turn will call my mobile relentlessly to try and sign me up.

For some reason, she registers for a callback using her real name as that's who these companies are asking for when they call. Not sure if you can call it identify theft but there must be a law against this...
 

Rod

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
27 May 2014
7,731
1,056
2,894
www.hutchinsonlegal.com.au
It is a form of stalking, but getting assistance from the police will be the problem.

Australia is well behind other countries implementing laws that cover circumstances like yours. The UK has had laws in place for almost 20 years :(

You could try going to court getting an DVO order, not sure how successful it would be.
 
S

Sophea

Guest
Yes, not identity theft so much as harassment. It is a criminal offence to use a phone to threaten, harass or seriously offend somebody - however this would normally refer to situations where the offender themselves is calling or texting you. Not giving out your number to others to do it.

However if someone is using your personal information to stalk, intimidate or harass you, you may be able to apply to the court for an intervention order to keep them from contacting you again.

Short of this and annoying as it is, I would change your number and be really careful who you give it out to. And if you have to contact your ex, only communicate via email or skype.
 

ithaca

Member
30 August 2016
3
0
1
Thank you for the help. Yes getting a new number would be annoying but probably the best option I have.
 

Tim W

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
28 April 2014
4,935
820
2,894
Sydney
Depending on the facts in detail,
she could be looking at an offence called (for short) "Use a Carriage Service To Harrass"