iPhones, tablets and online shopping are conveniences many people now take for granted, but they’ve also made their users more prone to scams.
Scams are dishonest or fraudulent schemes that often prey on people’s good intentions. And they’re prevalent this time of year.
Around 1 in 3 scams in Australia still go unreported. – That’s according to the National Anti-Scam Centre, which leads ScamWatch, a service that provides information and advice to Australians on how to protect themselves from scams.
The Centre recommends three steps to take if you suspect you’ve been contacted by a scammer: stop, check & report.
- Stop – don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure.
Scammers can pretend to be from your bank, service providers, a government agency, or the police. Some message scams may even look like they’re from friends or family members.
Be wary of messages claiming to offer help or anyone who contacts you and asks you to provide personal information to verify your identity.
If you receive a cold call from someone requesting that you transfer funds, provide payment authorization, or download software to your phone or computer, assume the caller is a scammer and end the call.
Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency, so you feel pressured to act quickly.
You should never feel pressured to respond, especially if you didn’t initiate contact. And certainly don’t act on any instructions that don’t seem to add up, or which you don’t fully understand.
- Check – Ask yourself if the message could be fake
Never click a link in a message, especially if you’re uncertain about the details or the sender. You can always say ‘no’, hang up or delete. Legitimate businesses and government services will have their contact details available on their official websites, so do your own checks and look up their details yourself.
As the saying goes: If something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
- Report – Act quickly if something feels wrong
If you notice any unusual activity, or a scammer gets hold of your money or information, contact your bank immediately.
Talk about your experiences with trusted friends and family members to raise awareness and get the support you need.
Reporting a scam helps all Australians to be better prepared.
To report a scam, visit:
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam
To report a cybercrime, incident or vulnerability, visit:
https://www.cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover/report
Information in this post is based on information from The Little Book of Scams, available at:
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/research-and-resources/the-little-book-of-scams
If you’re looking to secure a financial future that aligns with your values, get in touch with an adviser at Align Financial on (02) 9913 9995.
