Scams reported to the ACCC involving identity theft or the loss of personal/banking information have cost Australians at least $16 million this year, and this figure is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
Australian businesses reported more than 5800 scams with losses exceeding $7.2 million in 2018, a 53 per cent increase compared to 2017, according to the ACCC’s Targeting scams report.
The ACCC is warning the public to be alert to scams offering fake gift cards or vouchers in return for disclosing credit card and other personal information.
SCAMwatch is warning Australians to continue to be wary of phishing scams received by email or SMS following a twist which leads to fraudulent online banking transactions.
Beware of fake Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emails which claim that you’ve visited illegal websites. These emails are a scam. If you receive one, delete it! Don’t open any attachments and don’t provide your personal details.
SCAMwatch, Microsoft and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) are warning Australians to continue to be wary of scam calls claiming that your computer is infected with a virus or is sending out error messages.
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