Being scammed isn’t fun for anybody. Apart from the scammer. It seems to be how they get their kicks (and money).
In Australia, scams are a big issue. According to Forbes, “Australians have already lost close to $430 million to scams this year.”
We need to be savvy on all the latest scam strategies, and ensure those who are more vulnerable to being scammed – such as the elderly or those with intellectual disabilities – protect themselves online. Even harmlessly scrolling through Facebook Marketplace can reveal a few scam artists; you can’t always trust a: ‘Is this still available?’ message.
Read on for some anti-scam tactics we recommend you implement.
How common is it?
Being scammed, unfortunately, is all too common. Even big corporations like Medibank, Canva and Optus have experienced a data breach. And, it has been reported that 70% of data breaches are by a criminal or malicious attack.
It’s a scary thought that even the businesses with intelligent security measures can still be breached, but there are things we can do to out-smart the scammer.
Types of scams to be aware of
You can be scammed easily through your:
- Social media
- Phone number (text or phone call)
The content varies, but keep your eyes peeled for any of the below scams:
- People posing as your friend or family such as a text stating: ‘Hey, mum! I lost my phone and wallet, can you send me some money so I can get a taxi?’
- Fake bank authentication codes
- Crypto-currency messaging offering a sweet deal
- Work from home scam opportunities
- Student loan scams where they say you’ve paid too much, and are owed an amount
- Tech support scams to grant remote access to your phone or computer
It’s scary stuff, and it can be very believable.
How to protect yourself
With these scam artists, there usually tends to be time pressure – such as ‘please do this now!’ or ‘quickly!’ This can cause you to ignore your rational mind, and act without thinking. There is almost always a financial element, too. These two things: pressure on responding quickly and financial details should be causes for concern.
But here are some other ways to check if you’re being scammed:
- Ask yourself, do you recognise the number? You can always type it in your search engine and usually the number will show up as a registered scammer through someone else reporting it.
- Is an incredible opportunity being offered to you? Does it sound too good to be true? Yeah. It probably is.
- Are you being asked to set up a new method of payment? Something you haven’t used before, or heard of before? Avoid like the plague.
- Is there a link being sent? Who is sending links via a text message? No one. Except scammers. Ignore…
As long as you do your own research (usually these scam artists have been around the block, and other people will have reported them online) and make sure you never give out private information.
If you think you’re too savvy for scammers, you can always have a little fun back with them. Why don’t you tell them that you love them, and that you must marry them right away? Or that they have beautiful eyes, and they remind you of the ocean in the moonlight? The scammer will know you have them sussed then – the game is over.
We hope these tips have helped you be more aware of your safety online and at home. The more prepared you are, the less power the scam artists have.