Last week was Scams Awareness Week and there was plenty to talk about!
With the current data breaches and with scammers continually developing new ways to catch people out, we need to be more careful to check for those little clues that alert us to a scam. ACCAN (Australian Communications Consumer Action Network) has a quick video that summarises some key rules on how to avoid scams.
Key rules to beat the scammers
- Slow down! Scammers will try to rush you to take action
- Are they who they say they are? Banks and government institutions will never ask you to confirm personal details via phone, email or text message. Don’t click the link – call on their actual phone number and double check the details before taking action.
- Don’t pay with gift cards – they’re a scammer’s way of getting cash.
- Be aware – Increase your knowledge of the common types of scams
- Go to scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams for descriptions of the common scam types.
- Sign up for alerts from Scamwatch on the latest scams
- Work through the easy scam awareness courses on BeConnected
Why would they target me?
Scams cost hundreds of millions of dollars each year and cause serious emotional harm to victims and their families. Unfortunately, the over 65 age group is both the most targeted and loses the most money to scammers.
The Optus and Medibank data breaches have made it easier for scammers to trick us into falling for their scams. The scammers now have information they can use to make their scams look real. If you were affected by either of these breaches you need to be particularly careful. These are not the only data breaches, though. See https://www.webberinsurance.com.au/data-breaches-list#twentytwo for a list of data breaches in Australia, just in 2022 alone.
Other ways you can protect yourself
- Use unique and strong passwords. Write them down in a book you keep safe – that way you can use stronger passwords than if you try to remember them.
- Use two-factor authentication to protect your accounts, including financial, government, email, and social media accounts.
- Keep your devices up-to-date and install antivirus on your devices. This will not prevent all phishing attempts or links to fraudulent websites, but will reduce the risks. You will still need to remain vigilant.
- Keep an eye on your bank transactions. Check frequently for unexpected transactions and follow up on even small ones that don’t look right.
- Regularly review your account details and security settings for any online accounts. Check that your contact details are correct, and changes have not been made to any linked bank accounts or other services.
What if I get caught in a scam?
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, don’t be embarrassed and don’t keep it to yourself. There are steps you can take to fix the problem:
- contact your bank immediately and stop any further payments to the scammer
- report the scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission at scamwatch.gov.au – they can help you with further advice
- raise awareness. If there’s anybody else you know who might be a victim, let them know.
If you are concerned that your personal information has been exposed and misused, contact Australia’s National Identity and Cyber Support Service IDCARE on 1300 432 273 or idcare.org
Be alert but not alarmed
The internet can be a safe place to explore if you are:
- careful about sharing personal information online
- use common sense about who you send money to
- keep your guard up.