Most scams are attempts to get your personal or financial details. Scams can look genuine, and it can be difficult to tell when something is fake. However, there are some common signs that something may be a scam including:
1. The email, text or phone call is unexpected
2. There is a deadline or sense of urgency
3. There is a promise of financial benefit or threats of fines, debts or jail.
These are some of the easier ways to recognise a potential scam:
1. Unsecure websites: Always look for the https: (not http:) and the padlock icon in the address bar. Don’t rely on this alone, as some scam websites use https also, but it’s a good practice to never make a payment through a http: website.
2. Malicious links in emails or SMS: some links are obviously a scam as they don’t correlate to the topic at hand. Your best practice is to avoid all links and go to a known website e.g. Google and look it up independently.
3. Urgent emails: Scammers try to create a sense of urgency so that you do something without thinking it through or checking it. Take your time, check the email & address for spelling or grammatical errors. Check business logos look as they should. Check for changes to procedures or payment methods. Look up the sender’s phone number independently and call to confirm legitimacy. Eg find the contact number on a previous invoice, or through white/yellow pages.
4. Sight unseen sales: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Even if you are purchasing through a reliable “classified ads” website, it is always best practice to check the item in person before purchasing. If you can’t, then send a friend or independent third party. At the very least organize a payment on delivery arrangement or use a secure payment option like Paypal or Credit card.
If you have suspicion that something is a scam, please give us a call or come in and see us. Our technicians keep abreast of the latest scams and can advise you on your next step. It pays to keep up to date by checking or subscribing to www.scamwatch.gov.au. And if you think you have been scammed, report it to your local police on 131444.