SCAMwatch
Scams target you - protect yourself
Scams cost everyone, and anyone can be a target - you may already have been scammed without realising it.
That surprise lottery win in the mail, the email from your bank, the ‘free’ holiday, the ‘guaranteed income’, the ‘amazing’ share offer over the phone - all these can be fronts for scams.
Some are very easy to spot, while others are so sneaky you may not even know they are scams.
You can protect yourself
Most scams need you to do something before they can work, like:
- sending money based on promises that turn out to be false
- giving out your personal details to people who turn out to be scammers
- agreeing to deals without getting advice or buying a product without checking it out properly.
You can protect yourself by following the steps below.
Remember the golden rule: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Protect your money
- Never respond to an email asking you for your PINs or passwords.
- Never send money to someone you don’t know or trust.
- Only invest with licensed financial services providers.
Protect your phone
- Be suspicious of unexpected calls and text messages.
- Hang up. Or text ‘STOP’ to unwanted messages.
- Don’t give out your number to just anyone.
Protect your computer
- Keep your protection software up to date.
- Don’t respond in any way to unsolicited emails.
- If in doubt, delete.
Protect your identity
- Never give out your personal information to someone you don’t know or trust.
- Don’t just bin it - destroy it (old bills, records or expired cards).
- Check your credit report.
Remember the golden rule: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
To find out more about scams and to report scams visit the SCAMwatch website or call 1300 795 995. For TTY service call 1300 303 609.