Vodafone told to lift its game after ID check failures

VODAFONE has been ordered to update its computer systems after failing to verify the identities of thousands of customers before activating their prepaid mobile services.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has rapped Vodafone over the knuckles after an information technology glitch allowed customers to self- report online that their identities had been verified instore when buying a prepaid mobile.

An investigation by the ACMA found Vodafone had allowed customers to buy and activate prepaid mobile phones online without having their identification checked over two separate periods spanning four months from January 2015 to January 2016

A review of three separate days by ACMA found 1569 Vo- dafone customers had used the ID- checked instore option when purchasing their prepaid service online.

Of these, Vodafone had not checked the identifications of 1028 customers.

Separately, Vodafone admitted 19,697 prepaid phones had been activated using the online ID- checked instore option.

It had been able to confirm the identity of the customers for 13,314 of those services but had cancelled 6383 services after being unable to work out who had bought the phone.

Customers buying prepaid mobiles online can activate their service by providing driver’s licence, Medicare or passport details.

Vodafone said a computer system update had accidentally allowed customers to bypass these checks.

“Vodafone has since taken steps to confirm the identity of those customers or cancel services in cases where this verification wasn’t possible, and resolve the underlying issue,” the company said.

ACMA acting chair James Cameron said telcos must ensure changes to their IT systems don’t run the risk of contravening the law.

Vodafone has agreed to conduct a review and risk assessment of its systems.