<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Aussie telco serving regional Australians has been slapped with a massive fine after breaching anti-scam laws.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Southern Phone, a company based in southern New South Wales, has been fined $2.5 million for 168 breaches in just seven months, leading to customers losing $393,000, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The communications watchdog reported scammers were able to bypass identity verification processes put in place by the telco, meaning customers' mobile number services and bank accounts were exposed.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australias-most-trusted-distrusted-brands-revealed-bunnings-temu-big-banks-supermarkets/89b18750-26d7-461d-82bb-ffa86b0d06d5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Big movers in Australia's most trusted, distrusted brands</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authority Member Samantha Yorke said the breach gave customers serious financial and mental stress, and slammed the company for failing to detect the breach much earlier.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Many individuals suffered substantial financial losses, and we know that identity fraud can cause lasting emotional distress," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The vulnerabilities in Southern Phone's systems went undetected for over a year and should have been identified and addressed much earlier to prevent consumers experiencing this harm."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/southern-phone-fine-scam-australia/7d152d15-797a-4cb1-b70c-bc1382dc4df9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dday-for-lehrmann-after-another-return-to-lions-den/ffb6686e-94c7-49e3-80c1-8db6a155e086" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>D-Day for Lehrmann after another return to lion's den</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said the penalty imposed on the company was the largest for breaches of this kind.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Southern Phone is also required to independently review its processes, perform regular security tests, and report to ACMA for the next three years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The company, whose head office is in Moruya, New South Wales, also has offices in Melbourne and Bendigo in Victoria, and employs 250 staff. Its aim is "to deliver more affordable telecommunications services to regional communities," according to its website.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AGL, the parent company of Southern Phone, said it had made improvements since the breaches occurred.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have been working and cooperating with the ACMA's investigation and have strengthened our systems and processes to enhance customer identification verification and prevent unauthorised mobile number transfers," a spokesperson told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We remain committed to safeguarding customer information and upholding compliance across all operations."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>