Originally Posted by rowan

I've been receiving calls from an automated machine lately, inviting me to call a premium rate ($ per minute) number to enter a lottery. My fax machine is in the same number range and received a non connecting call within a few hours of my voice line, so they're probably just calling every number in sequence. Both of my numbers are silent/unlisted.

The strange thing is that in AU local calls are not free, so for every connected call they would have been charged a fee (consumers pay an untimed call rate, but for them it may have been cheaper to pay per minute). I wouldn't have thought the response rate would be high enough to recoup those call costs, give out a prize - if they actually do - and still turn a profit. A $3.50/min premium rate number may only return $1/min net.