Scamwatch: Be aware and protect yourself from scams
Every year, scams cost Australians, businesses and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars and cause emotional harm to victims and their families.
We found a useful resource to keep you aware of common scams is "The Little Black Book of Scams" written by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the national consumer protection agency.
Scammer’s tools can involve the following:
- Scammers spin elaborate, yet convincing stories to get what they want.
- They use your personal details to make you believe you have dealt with them before and make the scam appear legitimate.
- Scammers may contact you regularly to build trust and convince you that they are your friend, partner or romantic interest.
- They play with your emotions by using the excitement of a win, the promise of everlasting love, sympathy for an unfortunate accident, guilt about not helping or anxiety and fear of arrest or a fine.
- Scammers love to create a sense of urgency so you don’t have time to think things through and react on emotions rather than logic.
- Similarly, they use high pressure sales tactics saying it is a limited offer, prices will rise or the market will move and the opportunity will be lost. • A scam can have all the hallmarks of a real business using glossy brochures with technical industry jargon backed up with office fronts, call centres and professional websites.
- With access to the internet and clever software it is easy for scammers to create counterfeit and official-looking documents. A document that appears to have government approval or is filled with legal jargon can give a scam an air of authority.
Reference: The Little Black Book of Scams" Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
The golden rules to protect yourself
- Be alert to the fact that scams exist.
- Know who you’re dealing with.
- Do not open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or emails—delete them.
- Keep your personal details secure.
- Beware of unusual payment methods.
- Keep your mobile devices and computers secure.
- Choose your passwords carefully.
- Beware of any requests for your details or money.
- Be careful when shopping online.
Protect yourself
Resources to help protect yourself from common scams are:
Scamwatch To stay one step ahead of scammers, learn more by visiting the ACCC’s Scamwatch website—www.scamwatch.gov.au—where you can sign up for free email alerts on new scams targeting consumers and small businesses.
The Little Black Book of Scams written by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Download a free copy from https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/the-little-black-book-of-scams