Scams Awareness Week
Scams Awareness Week 2022
In 2021, there were over 300 reported cases of fraud in the Bathurst Local Government Area. Council has partnered with Scamwatch for Scams Awareness Week 2022 to help residents protect themselves against scams.
Can you spot a scam?
Learn to identify key scam signs and protect yourself. If you spot any of the following signs stop to check whether an offer or communication is real;
- Something urging you to act quickly
- A caller threatening you for immediate payment
- Messages and emails asking you to click on links or open attachments
- Someone asking you for your passwords, or personal or financial details
- Offers that sound too good to be true
- A caller asking to remotely access your computer
- Requests for payment via unsecure or unusual methods such as cryptocurrency, gift cards or bank transfer
- Requests asking for payment to a new bank account
- Unsolicited offers of financial or investment advice
- Offers to make fast or guaranteed money with little to no risk
Stop and check
Be careful of links and attachments.
Don’t click on or download anything you don’t trust, especially in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails.
- If unsure, check that a communication is real by contacting the person or organisation directly using details you have found yourself
- Scammers can spoof phone numbers and emails so they appear to be sent from a genuine source. Don’t automatically trust something just because it appears in a previous conversation with a trusted source
- Make sure your antivirus software is up to date
Protect your personal information
Never give personal information to a stranger. Scammers will pose as a legitimate contact to get your details to hack your accounts or steal your identity;
- Anyone asking for your passwords or access to your device is likely a scammer
- For added security, add two factor authentication on your accounts where possible
- Use strong paraphrases for your online accounts and protect your network and devices using antivirus software
Be careful with payments
Use secure payment methods such as credit card.
- If a known contact claims they have a new bank account, phone number or other details, call the person to confirm using a trusted number you have used before
- When making a large payment to a new recipient, or recipient who claims to have changed their bank account, always call to confirm their bank details using a number found on their website or that you have used before
Verify before you buy
If you’re buying something on a site or through a seller you haven’t used before, do your research first.
- Look for the sellers’ terms and conditions, ABN and physical address. The company’s address should have a street name, not just a post office box
- Search a seller or business name and details online for independent reviews
- Don’t rely on seeing a padlock in the address bar of your browser – this doesn’t guarantee you are buying from a real company
Remember
- Scammers can pretend to be anyone online, including the government or your bank so you can never be entirely sure who you are dealing with when you are contacted out of the blue
Research any opportunity that is too good to be true
Be wary of anyone that claims you can make easy, fast or guaranteed money.
- Seek professional advice from a registered or financial advisor and check they are registered on the ASIC website
- Do your research before making any decisions and check Moneysmart and Scamwatch for information on investment scams.