Scams target you - Protect your money is the latest message from the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce. The email claiming to be from your bank, the 'guaranteed income', the 'amazing' share offer over the phone or that surprise lottery win in the mail - it could be a scam!
Australians can lose substantial amounts of money to a wide range of scams. We work hard for our money, so don't part with it to a scammer with a dead-end offer!
Protect your money
- Never respond to an email asking for your PINs or passwords.
Suspect a scam if you are asked for your account details or passwords. These are your keys to your money and should be kept secret. Genuine banks and credit unions will never send you an email asking for personal security details like your Internet banking password or PIN. - Never send money to someone you don't know or trust.
Be wary of emails and telephone calls from people you don't know. Do not send money to collect winnings from lotteries you never entered. - Only invest with licensed financial services providers.
Do a quick search of ASIC's website (www.asic.gov.au) to ensure that the advisor or firm holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and check the list of 'Companies you should not deal with' on ASIC's MoneySmart website.
Learn more about the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce or report a scam via the SCAMwatch Report a Scam page.
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