Tasmanians are being warned against thinking they are “too smart to be scammed” ahead of Scams Awareness Week (12-16 August).
According to the Scams Awareness Network, Australians made more than 177,000 scam reports to the ACCC’s Scamwatch and reported a total loss of more than $107 million in 2018.
Investment and online dating scams continue to be the most financially devastating scams affecting Australians, and business email scams are quickly catching up with them.
These scams are sophisticated, taking advantage of new technology, and have the potential to catch out anyone – even people who believe they would never fall for a scam.
The Scams Awareness Network is a group of Australian and New Zealand government agencies with responsibility for consumer protection and policing in scams, cyber safety and fraud.
Consumer Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) advises people who have sent money or shared their banking or credit card details to contact their financial institution immediately. The transaction may be able to be stopped or reversed, or an account closed.
Anyone who has given their personal information to a scammer should visit www.idcare.org, Australia and New Zealand’s not-for-profit national identity and cyber support service.
For more information visit the website www.scamwatch.gov.au
More Media Releases from Elise Archer
More Media Releases from the Minister for Building and Construction