Hundreds of Spam Calls Form James from Oak Road Estate / The Wine Group

peppet on 06/04/2022 - 15:43
Last edited 07/04/2022 - 14:46 by 1 other user

I am literally getting hundreds of calls a month from "Ezra James from The Wine Group" formerly known as Oak Road Estate. Going off OzB threads, this has been an issue since 2020. I've called back once a day for a week and literally beg him to stop calling me, he does not listen. TrueCaller says each burner number he uses (the number dissappears after a few hours), makes up to 600 calls a day.

I've registered my number with the Do Not Call Register today so hopefully that will make a difference, in 30 days - and reported them to ACCC, but it seems people did this in 2020 and it had no effect.

Is anyone also having this issue? Anyone succeeded in getting this creepo to stop calling them? I am losing my mind blocking 5 numbers a day.
There's got to be a stricter reporting platform with actual penalties for people who call you 5 times a day after requesting them to stop harassing you.

If you're one of the lucky ones who have not had their number sold to him, stay far far away from that company.

Edit: power is out at work, so after ringing his number multiple times in a row to spam him back out of boredom Mr I'll call you 100 times a month even if you beg me to stop's response was "Look, I really don't deserve to be treated this way" which I think is peak comedy. I am so determined to get rid of this awful company

Edit: another update after someone gave me a suppliers number. I Called two suppliers, they're both from Top Drop Wines, both said Ezra James is the CEO and no one can talk to him personally (so I guess I've been talking to someone pretending to be him), that he's got heaps of people working for him and that I should contact Oak Road to get my number off their list since they're just a supplier. The guy said the business had a $100M turnover (ugh). Massive tosser.

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Related Stores

Oak Road Estate
Oak Road Estate

Comments

  • altomic on 06/04/2022 - 16:01
    +2

    what did they say when you contacted them?

    • this is us on 06/04/2022 - 17:46
      +9

      They probably said that they have an amazing selection of wines at great price, only until stock lasts.

      • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 18:09

        Exactly this ^ he just talks over you about his stupid wine. If I ask him not to call he just ignores me and continues to talk about his glorious stupid wine.

        • Ricky Jones on 06/04/2022 - 18:23

          You know that's a bot?

          • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 18:27

            @Ricky Jones: It's definitely a real person, he responds to my questions and got caught off guard and stuttered when I mentioned Oak Road

            • Ricky Jones on 06/04/2022 - 18:32
              +5

              @peppet: Does he answer complex questions? There are some bots that can reply to certain words that you say.

              I did a search on creditorwatch and found some details about the Director:
              EZRA JAMES MCINNES
              Director since 01-11-2018(3 years and 5 months)
              Date of Birth: 02-06-1986
              Age: 35 Years old
              Place of Birth: PORT PIRIE, SA
              Address:
              24 PARKERS ROAD
              PARKDALE VIC 3195
              This house is valued at $2.65 Million

              • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 18:40

                @Ricky Jones: Yes to answering complex questions, though you initially talk to a very convincing recording of his voice until you ask for him personally.

                My boyfriend just called another business in his building and the woman said she knows him as Ezra and he's a "lovely guy". A second business there said he's an AH and to report him to the police.

                How on earth did you find those details? I can't believe this guy lives in a nice house near the beach and spends his time running a spam call business.

                • Ricky Jones on 06/04/2022 - 18:41
                  +6

                  @peppet:

                  How on earth did you find those details?

                  www.creditorwatch.com.au have a free trial and the ABN for Oak Road Estate is 24613076734, but you can search by Business name if you don't have their ABN number. www.whois.com will allow you to search the website and if it's a .com.au website it should show their ABN. Also https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#/number-register/sear… is good for looking up Australian phone numbers to find the carrier, in this case I have found SymbioNetworks to be the carrier for Oak Road Estates numbers. SymbioNetworks are well known to knowingly provider phone numbers to scammers and spammers.

          • this is us on 06/04/2022 - 18:41
            +1

            @Ricky Jones: It's definitely a real person. There is interaction.

            It's not like when you get a call from ANZ customer service.

            • pulpfiction on 28/06/2022 - 19:51

              @this is us: It is 100% a machine. Ask weird questions or mumble. It will have a stab in most cases and be miles off. Also follow the thread of conversation. You can offend it, and move on without it showing any lingering frustration. It is very good tech.

              The scary bit is it responds with “Am I that good?” when you ask if it’s a machine. This is ethically disastrous.

              • this is us on 28/06/2022 - 20:40

                @pulpfiction: I still think it's a person, they haven't asked any weird questions when I last talked to them (years ago, before adding their number to the block list)… If that's a machine, I hope ANZ and Qantas replace their (customer) system with these machines, because at least they (machines) know what they are doing.

  • cashless on 06/04/2022 - 16:06
    +2

    You can also report to ACMA, although that just seems to feed you through to DNC register.
    Your best bet is to nag DNCR and keep going until they act

    • mskeggs on 06/04/2022 - 16:49
      +1

      The issue is if OP is a customer they can bypass the DNC.

  • Pete Gabitas on 06/04/2022 - 16:06
    +18

    Yes I often get calls from some (profanity) called James from the Wine Group. I normally ask him to wait while I put him on hold indefinitely.

    My Mrs told him she was a recovering alcoholic and hasn't had a call since. Give that a try.

    • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 18:10
      +1

      Your wife is a genius, I will try this when he inevitably calls me once again

    • foxmulder on 11/04/2022 - 11:51
      +2

      Thanks. Wine group today called just now - weird as I don't sign up for any wine accounts or buy any.

      I used the recovery alcoholic trick you suggested - not sure if he heard me as he suggested to give as gifts. Then I reemphasized on the recovery alcoholic then he said goodbye.

    • sam-1966 on 11/04/2022 - 16:16
      -1

      Daughter's partner told him the same thing and he keeps calling. Has also tried saying he is a Muslim…

  • Luo18740 on 06/04/2022 - 16:10
    +2

    Are they calling you randomly, or did you buy something from them once and give them your number?

    If it's the latter, you may need to contact the company as they may be exempt from the DNCR anyway. (Why did you wait until today to put your number on there anyway?!)

    Also, when you called back and asked not to be called, what did they say? Did they give a timeframe for your number to be taken off their call list?

    • kerfuffle on 06/04/2022 - 17:11
      +1

      For me, randomly. Used to get at least one a day. Luckily for me Google picks them up as spam

    • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 18:13

      Randomly for me too, I don't even drink wine. When I ask to take me off their list ol Jimmy pretends he didn't hear anything and continues trying to sell me his wine.

      Sadly I'm a complete idiot and didn't realise we even had a DNCR until today.

  • RotundPolarBear on 06/04/2022 - 16:37
    +1

    Tell him that drinking wine is for sissys.

    Real men drink whisky.

    • AdosHouse on 06/04/2022 - 17:36
      +2

      Ron Swanson approves of this message.

    • magic8ballgag on 07/04/2022 - 09:39
      -4

      Do real men know how to spell?

      • RotundPolarBear on 07/04/2022 - 10:19

        I assume you're referring to whisky vs whiskey? It depends where it's from, mate.

        Irish, Scottish, like Chivas Regal, Johnnie Walker etc is spelt whisky. Check the bottles on your shelf if you have any.

        I believe it's mainly American brands like Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey etc that spell it whiskey.

        Btw I didn't neg you.

        • magic8ballgag on 07/04/2022 - 13:07

          Nah, a different word.

          I guess a couple of real men didn't appreciate my cheeky comment.

  • biznes on 06/04/2022 - 17:14
    +1

    Had 4 today. Not answered a single one. Doing my head in.

  • Payne on 06/04/2022 - 17:24

    I had a similar situation, but it was from a different place. It was actually a proper scam call and they'd somehow managed to disguise themselves as a legitimate business. It was like their number had been hijacked.

    When the call came through, it had the company's name showing rather than just the number, even though I didn't have them as a contact in my phone.

    I wonder if the same thing is going on here?

    • kerfuffle on 06/04/2022 - 17:29
      +1

      Nope. They have quite a number of extensions and just call you on every single one they have

      • Payne on 07/04/2022 - 13:29

        Wow, just reading more below. Maybe everyone should start hassling them back via their various channels…

        • kerfuffle on 07/04/2022 - 13:30

          Should check out their Facebook page ha many unhappy people

          • Payne on 07/04/2022 - 13:41

            @kerfuffle: Yeah, I did have a peak. I'd guess they delete all the comments but can't delete the reactions. I did notice they have an email address there. Hmmm…

    • Drakesy on 06/04/2022 - 17:50
      +1

      It's pretty easy these days to register a name to your number. Only a small cost each month, and gets the legitimate businesses around the scam call filter.

  • this is us on 06/04/2022 - 17:42
    +1

    Yes, can confirm that Oak Wine Seller number ending 9953 has been on my block list for a long time, likely years. All the calls are automatically blocked and I don't even see them. I do hope they've stopped trying to contact me.

  • Ocker on 06/04/2022 - 17:50
    +3

    Coincidentally their registered head office is not all that far from me. Next time I go to Camberwell I will stick my head in their office and see what gives.

    • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 18:15
      +1

      Oh please do! I don't know if I'm expecting a man in a sad little office or a massive place with his hundreds of minions

    • peppet on 06/04/2022 - 21:27

      They're actually scamming people and falsely charging credit cards?? Jesus. His business neighbour's suggestion to tell the police is sounding like a good idea.

    • Baysew on 07/04/2022 - 10:40
      +2

      From an OzBargain member who worked there for a week -

      Hey guys,

      I am a former employee at "Oak Road Estate" Or "The Wine Group". I was there for only 1 week and ill tell ya everything people have been saying is true!!
      We are made to do well over 250+ calls per day! We are given the "Bottom" leads to start off with which is basically customers who have brought ages ago or have enquired, we are told to ring these customers at the least once a week regardless of if they have asked to be taken off the calling list. MOST of these customers have notes stretching back for months and months stating they are not interested but yet we are FORCED to still call them!

      We are pressured to follow a very pushy script to a T. We are not allowed to change anything about the script and even if you say no 2-3 times it states that we must still persist in getting a sale. This practice I couldn't deal with because I am all about genuine customer service and this went all against my morals.

      On my second day I received an email stating that every staff member MUST go on google and do a 5* review & provide proof that they had done so or the consequence would be your salesforce would be shut down & you would lose any commissions made that week! I was shocked! They even provided a paid invoice for all staff to use to bypass the customer verification process. I couldn't believe what I was reading!!!

      Because I was so new to this role and I was so strongly against the tactics what they were doing I called the director Ezra James and said I was resigning, he then promptly hung the phone up on me mid way through when I was speaking and I never heard from him again…. Goes to show how they run the company.

  • mikekiwimike on 07/04/2022 - 08:33

    I had the same issues with them, but not as regular as you. I would tell them not to call and they would still call, in the end I changed my number and no more calls :-) I changed my number for other reasons but your post just reminded me that I haven't had to say "I do not drink anymore so please stop calling for the past year".

    • MontyMacaw on 07/04/2022 - 08:59
      +1

      Bad debts too huh?

      • mikekiwimike on 07/04/2022 - 15:16
        +1

        Much much worse than a bad debt, an ex girfriend…

        • MontyMacaw on 07/04/2022 - 22:06
          +1

          I’d have debt collectors any day!!

  • Waltervp on 07/04/2022 - 11:41

    On my Galaxy phone I block the number and I just get a message to say I missed a call from then, but it doesn't actually ring and disturb me. Works well enough, but it's a bloody nuisance .

    • peppet on 07/04/2022 - 14:26

      Mine blocks too but those missed call texts are bloody annoying aren't they. Galaxys used to have a "block phrase" feature so you could block those texts but they got rid of it, boo

    • peppet on 07/04/2022 - 14:25

      I would very much like to know. I don't give my number out to anyone so I'm guessing someone found a database from years ago and sold out all the numbers

  • TimOfEastBNE on 13/05/2022 - 09:58
    +4

    This might be of interest, they have been fined $200k. https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/the-wine-gro…

    • peppet on 14/05/2022 - 10:10

      I could honestly cry after that ordeal. They got off way too lightly but fk I am so happy something came of all our complaints. Hopefully enough people read this to avoid them and any other business they make forever

  • breadylonglegs on 13/05/2022 - 12:05

    Got a call today. It was a robocaller with voice recognition.

    • peppet on 14/05/2022 - 10:11
      +2

      You are kidding me. What the absolute hell. They're absolute sadists for continuing this scheme after all the backlash.

      I hope one of the methods above can get them to stop calling you, but I am absolutely filing more reports if they're continuing to harass people

  • jerkwarer on 17/05/2022 - 19:57

    I think we should find ezras number and call him at all hours daily until he has to change numbers. also, find out james' details too and get to him for working at an unethical company and for (profanity) with us.

  • r4pt0r on 23/05/2022 - 22:16

    Seems like "The Wine Group" have their web domain registered under a peculiar name. Report them on an ACMA Spam Complaint form or Feel free to let them know what you think on their contact details below;

    PERFECT PRIVACY, LLC
    5335 Gate Parkway care of Network Solutions PO Box 459, Jacksonville, FL, 32256, US

    Phone
    +1.5707088622

    03 9558 133

    Email
    [email protected]

    More The Wine Group.com emails for you to let them know what you think;

    Katie Mcconville - Executive Vice President Human Resources
    [email protected]

    Kimberly Geluz - Chief Finnancial Officer
    [email protected]

    [email protected]
    [email protected]
    [email protected]
    [email protected]

    Reference:
    https://www.whois.com/whois/thewinegroup.com

  • seanbear on 02/06/2022 - 13:45
    +1

    Hi, like everyone Ive been receiving calls from these idiots for far too long (like years).

    Here is what Ive done so far, I recalled the number and asked to speak to a human not a pre recording, request this a couple of times until 'James' jumps on for real.

    I then said look, Ive asked this before and I will ask one last time, take me off this list, I know you guys were fined $200,000 by ACMA in May, and I am about to submit another complaint and get others to do the same, and will keep continuing to submit these complaints so you are fined repeatedly.
    https://www.acma.gov.au/articles/2022-05/wine-group-pays-200…

    He then hit the automated message "taking you off the call list have a lovely day"

    Looks like there are pre recorded messages and they basically hit these buttons to trigger certain messages.. hope that helps people. Now to see if it actually worked. Last resort, everyone here should submit their complaints to ACMA I will even draft what should be submitted and we all keep spamming complaints (ironic) so that Oakroad is fined repeatedly. Regardless, I am going to submit my complaint today.

    • loki niflheim on 03/06/2022 - 15:36

      Looking forward to hear if this worked.
      I actually didn't realize this was going on. As general rule I don't pick up calls from numbers I don't recognize and let them leave a message. I've now had 4 messages left that says "James from the Wine Group" using the same words. While one call might be mistaken as human, but 4 calls using the same words, same timing and cadence, you know this is a robot so I started Googling and found these threads.

      Now I also know the wine offer spam SMSes were from these guys. After the prevalence of phishing SMSes during COVID, I also don't respond to SMSes I don't recognize so I didn't think much about it. So far I've just been ignoring the calls and text as I would usually with unknown numbers. I don't block the number but I put these numbers under group "Ignore" and ringtone set to "No sound". I'm sure I'm not the only one who is worried that engaging them would clue them to the fact that there's someone on the other side and be more aggressive with spamming.

  • seanbear on 02/06/2022 - 13:52
    +1

    ACMA email is: [email protected]
    Oakroad email is: [email protected]; [email protected]

    Make sure you cc: Oakroad in your emails to ACMA

    "Hi

    I am making a complaint about https://www.oakroadestate.com.au/
    For their spam calls, I believe a lot of others have made complaints and they have been fined https://www.acma.gov.au/articles/2022-05/wine-group-pays-200… yet nothing has been done to pull this business and their callers into line.

    Look at the complaints here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/693023#comment-12211363
    Former employee:
    Hey guys,
    I am a former employee at "Oak Road Estate" Or "The Wine Group". I was there for only 1 week and ill tell ya everything people have been saying is true!!
    We are made to do well over 250+ calls per day! We are given the "Bottom" leads to start off with which is basically customers who have brought ages ago or have enquired, we are told to ring these customers at the least once a week regardless of if they have asked to be taken off the calling list. MOST of these customers have notes stretching back for months and months stating they are not interested but yet we are FORCED to still call them!
    We are pressured to follow a very pushy script to a T. We are not allowed to change anything about the script and even if you say no 2-3 times it states that we must still persist in getting a sale. This practice I couldn't deal with because I am all about genuine customer service and this went all against my morals.
    On my second day I received an email stating that every staff member MUST go on google and do a 5* review & provide proof that they had done so or the consequence would be your salesforce would be shut down & you would lose any commissions made that week! I was shocked! They even provided a paid invoice for all staff to use to bypass the customer verification process. I couldn't believe what I was reading!!!
    Because I was so new to this role and I was so strongly against the tactics what they were doing I called the director Ezra James and said I was resigning, he then promptly hung the phone up on me mid way through when I was speaking and I never heard from him again…. Goes to show how they run the company.
    This is just one site/forum, there are plenty of others, and tens of thousands more that are silent.

    I must’ve received multiple calls a day for years and I am sick of it. Just spoke to “James from the winegroup” (google it, it actually comes up that’s how many people have complained!) and requested I speak to a real person instead of pre-recorded messages they play by hitting buttons. I have told him to stop calling me and that I am submitting this complain to ACMA again, along with others who are fed up.

    Hoping another fine or 5 might actually make this company stop."

  • sanmoix on 06/07/2022 - 11:44

    James from the wine group, it is a pre recorded message. Fooled me good, I said wanted a Barossa, but he started talking about Mclaren Vale. Then the call went to a what sounded off shore person to complete the payment. Thankfully I did receive the wine, albeit was advised a $31 bottle when it really is just $14 in most places. Now they call twice a day even they got that enormous fine in May 22 is just mind boggling. I will never buy again over the phone unless its reputable company i.e. Virgin Wines etc.

  • halo9 on 05/08/2022 - 15:46

    I’ve been getting calls from these guys for ages and submitted complaints. Went quite for months. Well they’re back again. It’s from Luke this time.

    Urging everyone to submit complaints again to get these guys another massive fine.

    • peppet on 05/08/2022 - 15:56

      Jesus christ. I've been getting so many spam calls recently out of nowhere but I had put this wine bullshit out of my mind and didn't make the connection until your comment just now. I think it's the fn wine group again, I called all the numbers and they're all out of service.

      I'm so exhausted from my previous experience I don't think I can go through that crap again. These guys need to be put up on harassment charges at this point

  • peppet on 05/08/2022 - 15:56

    Oops, reply to ^

  • Alandrover on 31/08/2022 - 12:20
    +2

    You need to take action for this to stop. If we all act together it makes a big difference Here is how.

    Here are 3 things I am doing to stop getting constant calls from James at the Wine Group (which operates under the names Oak Road Estate and Top Drop).

    1. Email a complaint to [email protected] (this will help add evidence for additional actions - proof they WILL act is they just fined them $200,000 and niw are checking they are complying with requests to unsubscribe, and not call /SMS numbers on the do not call register). The site has a section for forwarding SMS spam too.

    2. State clearly on the calls you get from James "unsubscribe me from all calls". And him to text a confirmation he has done so. Oddly when I asked this, he stopped talking then hung up, which would be yet another breach….

    3. Email the wine group to UNSUBSCRIBE and add you to their own DO NOT CALL LIST. Their website lists this as the address to use. [email protected] although based on past behaviour don't list any one numbers in your email signature block!

    4. Register your mobile number at the Australian do not call register. It's a GOVERNMENT service. https://www.donotcall.gov.au/consumers/register-your-numbers…. This helps make it's even more illegal to call you and spam you…

    5. Simplest of all is block/,report spam directly from your phone It's a feature your phone has. When enough spam reports hit a number the Android OS blocks it automatically for all of us. Probably iOS /APPLE too

    If we all act together it will make a big difference.

    +#+$+#+#+#+$++#+#++#+#+#++$+$++$+#+#++$

    • peppet on 31/08/2022 - 12:28
      +1

      I'm hoping the influx of people complaining resulted in their initial fine, but I'm disgusted that they're continuing this harassment.

      I've submitted another ACMA complaint but others have commented that they're still receiving calls.

      I really want to escalate this further, as high as it'll go. It sounds ridiculous but this genuinely caused me immense "trauma". I tried calling Vic police but that was never followed up. I'm not really sure what else I can do.

      Any idea of where we can take this higher up? The news?

  • halo9 on 04/12/2022 - 18:25
    +1

    Surprise surprise, they are in the media again for harassing people using different fake names. Obviously they must suck in so many people to not give a crap about potential fines.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-03/woman-shocked-after-w…

    • peppet on 04/12/2022 - 19:32

      How in the absolute (profanity) are they allowed to keep doing this???

      Ezra James is an absolute piece of shit who I honestly think deserves jail time at this point

      The police wanted nothing to do with it. ACMA just hands out fines, which they're so rich they don't care at all about. I refuse to believe there's nothing more that can be done. I've talked to lawyers who just pass me on to ACMA or ask for crazy fees.

      I haven't recieved any calls for a few months but just being reminded of this is stress inducing. That was a horrid time

  • NotHotDog on 12/01/2023 - 17:49

    These are the numbers i get call from

    2023:
    0385832398
    0385832399

    2022:
    0385832347
    0385832316
    0390006127
    0390006100
    0370319303
    0370319313
    0391212716
    0370319367
    0389041781
    0370319363
    0391212679
    0370319371
    0391212622
    0391212700
    0370319341
    0385211686
    0420101282
    0485826233
    0488862902
    0485826277
    0485825697
    0485825752

  • Big L on 06/12/2023 - 22:35

    I ended up here after investigating the claims in this job adverisement: https://www.seek.com.au/job/71574308?type=promoted&ref=searc…

    This is their website: https://xplobiz.ai/

    In short, the owner of The Wine Shop and xplobiz are the same person. They've been using their AI/Chatbot tech at Wine Group and now want to sell it to other companies.

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