Organisations that fall victim to a ransomware attack shouldn’t let the cyber criminals know they have cyber insurance – because if the attackers know that their victim holds an insurance policy, they’re more likely to outright demand the ransom payment in full. Cybersecurity researchers at Fox-IT, part of NCC Group, examined [...]
Did you get an offer that seems too good to be true or a request to donate to a charity or institution? Perhaps you got a notification saying that you won the lottery or something? Scammers know how to press the right buttons to get what they want.
Scams target individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and income levels. They are modern day fraudsters trying to steal your money or personal information.
Scams are usually done by phone, SMS, or email. They look and sound very real, hoping to convince the victim to take the bait. What scammers do is they contact thousands of email addresses every day, pitching their offer or spiel. There’s a good chance that you have been contacted by a scammer at one point.
Every year, scams cost Australians millions of dollars and cause considerable harm, especially for businesses. Australian businesses reported more than $14 million in losses due to payment redirection alone scams last year. In 2019, Australians lost over $634 million to scams. The average losses so far this year are more than five times higher compared to average losses in the same period last year.
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Most scams are designed to get your personal or financial information. Scammers will then use this information to steal money from you or commit fraud or identity theft. They might steal directly from you or use your information to commit other crimes.
Scams often look genuine and some users find it difficult to tell when something is fake. This is the scammer’s way of convincing the victim that the offer is real. But there are some common signs you can watch out for if you think the email you received is a scam:
When you get an email or any message that you suspect to be a scam, delete them immediately and report them to ScamWatch.
Scammers take advantage of the spread of COVID-19 to scam people across Australia. Some are asking for donations to charities while others use phishing tactics to dupe people.
also known as business email compromise scams, scammers try to impersonate a business or their employees via email and request for money that is supposedly owed to the legitimate business.
Scammers take advantage of consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services, particularly in online shopping.
Scammers impersonate actual charities and request for donations after natural disasters or major events, such as COVID-19.
Scammers prey on users who want to earn money fast. They have invented all forms of fake money-making opportunities to get hold of your cash.
Scammers use all sorts of threats and hijacking to steal your money or information.
These scams target victims who are seeking new rental accommodation by offering fake rental properties.
If you get a suspicious email claiming to be from an organization, a business, or an agency:
Report scams to your local consumer affairs organization, Scamwatch or the Australian Cyber Security Centre to inform others about this type of scam and help have the scammers tracked down.
Australians lost over $634 million to scams in 2019
Other tips to keep in mind:
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