Scams, and the con artists behind them, are forever evolving and becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot.
Australian Community Media has compiled a list of current scams identified by sites such as scamwatch.gov.au, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which are dedicated to informing people about fraudulent and dishonest activities.
If you have been the victim of a scam report it to scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam.
Ticket scams
- With major international acts heading to Australian stages this year, Scamwatch.gov.au and ticket company Eventbrite have warned consumers to make sure they are purchasing tickets from legitimate sources.
- According to Eventbrite, "scammers have flocked to every potential sales channel, from online marketplaces and social media to email and SMS, hoping to make a quick buck off dedicated fans who missed out on tickets."
- People are urged to look for telltale signs that the tickets may not be real, such as: language that doesn't seem quite right, mobile phone numbers and requests to text the seller upfront to make a purchase and requests for payment via vouchers or gift cards.
- Scamwatch recommends only purchasing tickets through official ticket suppliers and resale channels.
Payment scams
- Scammers are sending emails asking for a PayPal payment for a Google Pixel phone (or other goods) you never purchased, according to Scamwatch.gov.au.
- The invoice contains the scammer's phone number. Don't open the link or call the number, just delete the email.
What to do if you've clicked on a dodgy link
- If you've ever clicked a link in a scam message or email, you may be targeted in follow-up scams, according to Scamwatch.gov.au
- They may call or message you impersonating your bank offering to protect your money from the scam you received. Contact your bank on an independently sourced number to verify.
Pay ID scams
- Last year, Australians lost $260,000 to PayID impersonation scams, according to Scamwatch.
- PayID is managed by your bank so you will never be contacted directly.
- If you're unsure about an email or message, reach out to your bank and don't make any payments
New year, new scams
- Scamwatch is urging people to be wary of scams that target people looking to make a fresh start in the New Year.
- People looking for new jobs, new fitness or weight loss programs, new ways of saving or making money should show due diligence before handing over money or personal and financial details.
- The ACCC's Scamwatch is warning young people in particular, to protect their personal information when applying for jobs and to beware of job offers made through social media platforms or messaging services such as Whatsapp.
- Jobseekers are being urged to watch out for scammers, with new Scamwatch figures revealing Australians lost over $8.7 million to recruitment scams in 2022.
- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is also warning consumers to beware of weight loss shams when looking to fulfil a new year's resolution.
- These scams promise dramatic weight loss for little or no effort. They typically involve an unusual or restrictive diet, revolutionary exercise, a 'fat-busting' device or breakthrough pills, patches or creams.
- The ACCC also warns of investment scams targeting those who want to increase their savings rapidly during 2023.
- The majority of losses to investment scams involved crypto investments. Cryptocurrency is also the most common payment method for investment scams.
- Meanwhile, imposter bond scams usually impersonate real financial companies or banks and claim to offer government/Treasury bonds or fixed term deposits.
- Scamwatch warns never send money or give your personal information, credit card, online bank or cryptocurrency account details to anyone you don't know, especially if you've only met them online, through email or over the phone.
Beware the latest 'Hi Mum' scam
- A new text message reading "Happy New Years mum" and that the sender has "just finished setting up my new phone" and asking the receiver to "WhatsApp me on this new number so I can update your contact" has been making the rounds since Christmas, when many people received a new phone.
- If you receive this 'Hi Mum' message, stop and call the alleged sender on their usual number to confirm it's really them.
- Don't send money without speaking to the message sender first.
Be aware of event ticket scams
- Watch out for scammers when buying event tickets online. Some people have not received tickets they paid for and others received fake tickets.
- Do your research to ensure websites are safe and legitimate.
- If you have been scammed, report it to Scamwatch online at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
Look for red flags when buying online
- We all love a sale but beware of scams impersonating popular Australian retail websites. Scammers are selling items at big discounts.
- Scammers use the latest technology to set up fake retailer websites that look like genuine online stores. They may use sophisticated designs and layouts, possibly stolen logos, and even a '.com.au' domain name and stolen ABN.
- The biggest tip-off that a retail website is a scam is the method of payment. Scammers will often ask you to pay using a money order, preloaded money card, or wire transfer, but if you send your money this way, it's unlikely you will see it again or receive your purchased item.
- Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Look out for red flags when job hunting
Australian jobseekers lost more than $8.7 million to scammers posing as recruiters in 2022 but the real number is believed to be much higher.
Employment scams noticeably increased in the last three months of the year as many people considered a career change or finished studying, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
"Thousands of young Australians have finished school and graduated from university with high hopes about their future careers and the intention to look for work in the new year. Unfortunately, they are being targeted by scammers," ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.
"We know younger people are particularly vulnerable, with Australians aged between 25 and 44 reporting the biggest losses to job scams.
"If you are job hunting and you are offered work that requires little effort for a big financial reward it is most likely a scam. This might include repeatedly clicking a button on a website or app to purchase products or submit reviews."
More than 3194 reports of job scams made to Scamwatch in the past 12 months, with many of the victims were lured on the promise of making money quickly, the consumer watchdog said.
Many criminals posed as legitimate recruiters and sought out victims via social media, promising a job at a real company if they handed over money.
Scammers pretended to work for high-profile companies or online shopping platforms and contacted victims through targeted online advertisements or messaging forums.
Some schemes involved asking jobseekers to purchase large amounts of particular products through certain websites or submitting reviews.
"In the final months of 2022, we saw a significant uptick in reports and losses associated with recruitment scams and we are concerned these scammers will continue to ramp up their efforts as people look for work in the new year," Ms Rickard said.
"With many Australians looking to make the most of a highly competitive job market, we are urging jobseekers to be wary of opportunities that seem too good to be true. Never make a payment or upfront investment to secure a job. If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank or financial institution immediately."
Recruitment scam red flags include having to act quickly to secure a role, being offered a job without an interview, handing over personal details like bank account numbers or being asked to transfer to a third party.
Ms Rickard asked anyone who thinks they are caught up in a recruitment scam to contact Scamwatch and said they could seek help from cyber support charity IDCARE.
Click here to learn more about what reg flags to look out for when hunting for a new job.
