There are countless types of scams, with new scams constantly emerging. While scammers are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, people often believe they would never fall victim. Many Australians believe they could confidently spot a scam, or believe they would know what to do if they were targeted. Often it is this sense of confidence that scammers target and it makes everyone vulnerable.
- Scams are always changing and everyone is a target.
- Scammers are getting smarter and are taking advantage of new technology.
- Many people believe they would never fall for a scam.
- Scammers try to get money or steal your personal details so they can pretend to be you.
- You can be scammed in different ways - online, phone, post or in person.
- Scammers use all sorts of tactics to prey on their victims:
- We tend to comply with requests from authority figures – scammers often pretend to be a government official.
- We often trust those we know – scammers try to gain trust by claiming to be from a well-known business or impersonate a known contact.
- Scammers will suggest their own verification procedures, like going to websites they have created or calling numbers they provide to you.
- Scammers know how to appeal to your emotions and press your buttons to get what they want.
- Scammers create a sense of urgency to get you to make decisions without thinking. - Reporting scams can help others from falling victim.
If you feel like a victim or would like further information reach out to: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-scamwatch/contact-us