‘Tis’ the Season to be jolly!’
And the chorus erupts, ‘fa, la, la ,la, la, la, la, la, la
And as we scamper to buy those last-minute presents, sort the lunch menu, check the table settings and ask who’s bringing the trifle,
behind the scenes are the less pleasant aspects of the ‘silly season’
Lurking are the scammers out shopping for their next victims! In our fast paced, digital world, fraudsters, hackers, and cybercriminals are active, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting.
Once again, we are being reminded to be alert to false communications. In private or work life, shopping, banking, Business activities, bookings, travel, nothing and no-one is out of scope for scammers!
The message is be wary!
Businesses are a target and need to protect their operations. Reports indicate there is a rise in remote access scam attempts where cybercriminals impersonate bank staff to gain access to systems. Scammers often claim to be from a bank's fraud unit, referring to an account compromise or similar, suggesting a need for urgency. You are prompted to provide important banking information. Respond and you’re scammed!
Others scams include:
- ‘Fake’ Online shopping sites - very popular during this festive season.
- Bulk email extortion – click, your parcel is ready to collect.
- Cybercriminals – remote access scams, payment redirections scams
- Bank impersonation – text, messages, emails and phone calls.
- Family member contact – Mum send me money, running short while travelling.
And no one is safe!
Just because it's a purported Government agency message check first, as all is not as it seems!
MyGov the federal Government's online portal is the latest target. Centrelink, ATO, and Medicare services customers are linked to this site.
Services Australia advises there are some basic precautions people can take, including ignoring links in texts or emails. Services Australia, including MyGov won't send a text message or email with a link asking you to sign in or share personal information.
Card collection scams are current. In this situation scammers will call impersonating a reputable organization, like a bank. The scammer will ask for your details, card PIN and ask that you leave the card in your letter box so it can be replaced. Or they may ask for cash to be left. Reports show older more vulnerable Australians are the main target.
What to do?
To find out more, go to the Scamwatch website.
The Australian Government’s Scamwatch is led by the National-Anti-Scam Centre.
Think you have been scammed!
Act immediately, contact your Bank, Financial institution, or Provider if you have been scammed or have concerns about suspicious activity.