Cheap wireless a scam

Offering ‘Wireless internet access anywhere, anytime’, with no download limits and speeds up to four times faster than cable for a $70 monthly access fee, Hughes Corporation’s advertisements drew massive interest. After all, who wouldn’t want cheap,

Offering 'Wireless internet access anywhere, anytime', with no download limits and speeds up to four times faster than cable for a $70 monthly access fee, Hughes Corporation's advertisements drew massive interest. After all, who wouldn't want cheap, fast and un-metered wireless Internet access? Unfortunately, suspicions first aired by Whirlpool concerning the legitimacy of both the offer and Hughes Corporation itself, have proved correct.

Both Ericsson Australia and US-based Hughes Network Systems, two companies the Queensland-based Hughes claimed affiliations with, have issued press releases denying any and all dealings with the company. This alone points towards a scam, as Hughes' original offer cited Ericsson Australia as the company installing wireless equipment in customer PCs.

All points of contact with Hughes have now been cut off. According to this Whirlpool report, the company allegedly handling Hughes' call centre operations – Pro Marketing – has terminated its contract with Hughes as of 9am this morning. Furthermore, the man supposedly responsible for setting up the call centre contract – one Dr Ronald Gander – has suddenly become an extremely hard man to find.