Doorknocker offers fake NBN services in Hobart

Tasmanian residents have been warned about door-to-door salespeople offering fake connections to the National Broadband Network.

In an advisory released last night, consumer group Digital Tasmania warned that at least one salesperson had begun offering the services to customers in the Hobart suburb of Glenorchy.

The salesperson claimed to represent a major telco and was door knocking in the area to offer a 20 Mbps NBN service.

Potential 'customers' were offered a significant upgrade to 1.5 Mbps services in the area, despite the fact the suburb is enabled for ADSL2+ through DSLAMs from multiple ISPs.

Those in the area were told they could only receive NBN services through the telco purportedly being represented.

The suburb of Glenorchy is only slated to receive NBN services as part of the stage three rollout on the island.

Construction at seven stage two sites began last month, with no concrete dates yet set for the stage three locations.

"Consumers should not shun the NBN due to this incident, because there are always unscrupulous people who take advantage of large programs, especially when awareness is low," Digital Tasmania spokesperson Andrew Connor said.

It is as yet unclear if the scam involves more than one person or how many have been affected.

Representatives for NBN Co and the telco involved had been contacted by Digital Tasmania, as well as the state's consumer affairs department.

A spokesman for NBN Co told iTnews the NBN wholesaler was aware of the issue and referred to safety guidelines outlined by Digital Tasmania.