Need to know
- Fake Starlink websites and social media ads are promising lifetime internet access and SIM cards for a one-off fee
- All of Starlink’s services come with ongoing fees and the company doesn't sell SIM cards
- Australians have reported losing money to these scams as local demand for Starlink grows
Websites and posts on social media are impersonating satellite internet provider Starlink and promising lifetime access to its popular services in return for a one-off fee.
CHOICE has seen multiple examples of fake Starlink advertisements on social media and copies of the company's website, while some Australians have already reported losing money to these scams.
We're cutting through the noise to explain what Starlink is, how to spot dodgy offers and what to do if you've given money or personal information to a suspected scammer.
On this page:
- What is Starlink?
- Growing interest in satellite solution
- What Starlink scams are there?
- How to spot a Starlink scam
- What to do if you've been scammed
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite internet service provider owned by American company SpaceX. It's been available in Australia since 2021.
It promises fast internet almost anywhere, including in remote and regional parts of the country where traditional cable internet services aren't accessible or perform poorly.
Starlink satellites beam internet down to each customer's own receiving dish.
Starlink doesn't rely on traditional cable infrastructure to service customers, but rather beams internet down to them directly from thousands of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
Using Starlink means pointing a satellite dish up at the sky to receive internet from these satellites and connecting this to a router.
From this point, Starlink works much like a regular internet service, with the router emitting a Wi-Fi signal you can connect to, as long as you're not too far away from it.
Starlink customers should be able to get a relatively fast internet connection wherever the company's LEO satellites provide coverage, which currently includes all of Australia.
This promise of blanket reach features in Starlink's marketing of its two different plans available to consumers: Residential and Roam.
The Roam option capitalises on this further by bundling the service into a smaller kit (the Starlink Mini) which can stay in touch with Starlink's satellites and keep you online while you attach it to a vehicle or carry it around.
To get access to Starlink, you have to buy one of the company's satellite dishes, along with other pieces of equipment, and then pay ongoing monthly costs for data.
In other words, there'll always be ongoing fees, which can be as high as $200 per month for some plans.
Growing interest in satellite solution
Starlink's promise of a quick connection anywhere has helped it steadily gain popularity in Australia in the four years since it launched here.
And when it comes to speed, at least, CHOICE has found Starlink delivers on its promises: in a recent review, we observed it delivering decent speeds, similar to those available via the NBN.
The ACCC keeps an eye on Australia's internet service providers and last year observed that Starlink's customer base was "growing quickly", making the company a "significant supplier" of satellite internet locally.
As of April this year, the company has more than 350,000 active Australian customers. Residents in some parts of the country have at times had to go on waitlists before being able to access Starlink's services.
What Starlink scams are there?
But unscrupulous elements appear to be seeking to profit off Starlink's popularity.
Ads on social media promise Starlink equipment and services in return for a one-off fee.
In recent weeks, CHOICE has seen multiple suspicious ads on Facebook claiming to provide Starlink equipment or services in return for one-off payments.
The ads trade on Starlink's portability, effectiveness in remote areas and the fame of the company's owner, Elon Musk.
"Starlink is a new product and is getting a lot of interest from consumers," says CHOICE test coordinator Elias Plastiras, who oversaw our recent Starlink review.
"These scams are likely capitalising on the fact that many people probably don't know where and how to get it."
The ads appeared following searches for Starlink on Facebook's main site and in parent company Meta's Ad Library. The pages responsible for the ads used names and logos similar to that of Starlink.
Several promotions spruiked services similar to Starlink's Roam plan, promising to deliver Starlink's Mini portable kit and provide "unlimited" or "lifetime" internet access for a one-off payment of just $59.
Clicking on these ads took users to copies of Starlink's official website, where countdown timers encouraged curious customers to make a quick purchase.
Other ads seen by CHOICE featured pictures of owner Elon Musk and claimed to provide similar unlimited internet deals with no ongoing fees via a "Starlink SIM Card".
Ads link to fake copies of Starlink's website, where users are pressured to make quick purchases.
Starlink scams claiming victims
A number of Facebook users in Australian scam awareness and Starlink customer groups have reported losing money after clicking on these sorts of ads.
One user said they paid over $200 to one advertiser, but didn't receive the promised equipment or services.
While Starlink didn't respond to our questions about the suspicious ads we found, the company has warned users to beware of suspicious websites and other scams.
A page on Starlink's website warns existing customers to watch out for suspicious messages asking for their email and phone number or their Starlink password and payment details.
The ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre says it's received 34 reports of scams that mention Starlink so far this year
However they appear, Starlink scams appear to be having an impact on Australian consumers.
The ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre says it's received 34 reports of scams that mention Starlink so far this year, some of which involved consumers losing money.
Facebook owner Meta didn't respond to questions specific to these scams, but has previously told CHOICE it's taking action against scams on its platform and encourages users to report suspicious ads.
How to spot a Starlink scam
Knowing what Starlink is and how it works makes it easier to spot fake offers.
CHOICE tester Elias Plastiras warns there's a lot of easy red flags to look for. Claims like 'no monthly fees' (Starlink always has monthly fees), 'lifetime' (whose lifetime?) and 'one-time cost' (for what?) usually give the scams away.
And while Starlink is working with telcos to roll out new satellite-powered phone services, it doesn't sell its own SIM cards, so anyone claiming to sell these should be treated with caution.
It also pays to understand how Starlink is sold. While the company does authorise certain retailers in Australia to sell its equipment, Elias says anyone who's bought legitimate Starlink products will still have to go through the company's official website eventually.
If people are using Starlink, they should only be looking at the Starlink website, not anywhere else
CHOICE tester Elias Plastiras
"If people are using Starlink, they should only be looking at the Starlink website, not anywhere else. Even if you buy the kit from JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks, you still have to sign up and set up your connection through Starlink's website," he explains.
"Telstra also has an agreement with Starlink to sell internet plans powered by its satellite technology, but these are only sold by Telstra itself."
Addressing the risk of phishing emails and texts, Starlink says it will never ask you to share personal information in a text or email or over the phone.
Any information required for your account should only be entered at the starlink.com website or the company's official app.
What to do if you've been scammed
If you've sent money or provided sensitive financial details to a suspected scammer, contact your bank or financial institution as soon as possible.
Contact IDCare for further assistance securing your personal information if you believe it's fallen into the hands of criminals.
You can also help warn others by reporting the scam to Scamwatch and the police via ReportCyber or posting about it on social media.
If you've come across a suspicious ad on social media, report it to the relevant platform.
Starlink also recommends changing your password with the service if you've shared details of your Starlink account with a potential scammer.
For more, see our guide to what to do if you've been scammed.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
