The ACCC’s Scamwatch service is warning the Chinese community in Australia to be wary about two alarming scams that involve extortion via fake kidnappings and threats of arrest.
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.
Gift cards are increasingly the payment method of choice for scammers. Scamwatch reports show more than $5 million was lost in 2018, a 38 per cent increase compared with 2017.
Watch out for fake parcel delivery scams arriving in your inbox this Christmas, after $80,000 was reported lost to the ACCC this year, with 1,360 complaints.
Scamwatch is warning consumers to beware of scammers pretending to be from Microsoft, with the latest round of scams based around the current Microsoft Windows 10 system upgrade.
Scamwatch is warning consumers to be aware of calls from scammers claiming to be from the 'Department of Immigration' threatening you with deportation and demanding money.
