Posted on by RC

Scams: How to protect yourself

As we enjoy an evolving digital world, scammers are becoming more sophisticated and widespread.

Many operate as international crime networks and use sneaky tactics to steal our money, information and identity. This leaves ordinary Australians vulnerable, fighting to recover their money while dealing with the emotional toll of being deceived.

The statistics are alarming. In 2024, Australians made nearly 495,000 scam reports and reported scam losses of $2 billion1. In 2023-24 nearly 11,000 scam-related complaints were lodged2.

3 simple steps

The Government’s ScamWatch website recommends 3 steps to spot and avoid scams:

STOP – Don’t rush into anything. If unsure about a call, email or message, never give money or personal information. Hang up, don’t click on links or attachments, and delete.

CHECK – Ask yourself: could the message or call be fake? Verify the sender’s identity by contacting the organisation directly through their official website or app.

PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong and report scams to ScamWatch.

Download The Little Book of Scams to learn more.

Online safety

The internet exposes us to cyberattacks. Here are 10 tips to protect yourself online:

  1. Choose strong, unique passwords and use a password manager.
  2. Enable multi-factor authentication.
  3. Monitor account activity and turn on transaction notifications.
  4. Maximise privacy and security settings of all accounts, browsers and apps, including social media.
  5. Keep your devices updated with security patches, antivirus software and a firewall.
  6. Be sceptical of requests for money, information or logins.
  7. Check emails and messages for typos, poor grammar and strange formatting. Hover over links to see the actual web address.
  8. Never give a stranger remote access to your computer.
  9. Follow guidance from your financial institutions and telcos.
  10. Avoid public wi-fi.

Visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre website for more advice.

Remember…

Anyone can fall victim to scams. Be aware, cautious and vigilant. Consider sharing this post with your close ones to help them stay safe.

1 National Anti-Scam Centre, 2024 Targeting scams report: https://www.nasc.gov.au/reports-and-publications/targeting-scams
2 Australian Financial Complaints Authority: https://www.afca.org.au/annual-review-scams

This information is of a general nature only and has been provided without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, you should consider whether the information is appropriate in light of your particular objectives, financial situation and needs. For further information on anything that has been discussed in this article, please consider seeking qualified and professional advice.

Photo Credit: Photo by Moritz Kindler on Unsplash