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Losses to online shopping scams have increased 42 per cent this year, and Scamwatch is warning Australians to be careful when buying gifts this holiday season.
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Australians have lost over $8.8 million to threat based scams so far this year, and young people are reporting the highest losses.
![a lady on a phone call looking concerned and hands on her forehead](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/type-of-scam-images/identity-theft2-thumb.jpg?itok=GcPpYtAJ)
Australians have lost over $300,000 to rental and accommodation scams this year, an increase of 76 per cent compared to the same time last year.
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The ACCC has launched a podcast series for this year’s National Scams Awareness Week to provide Australians with tips on how to protect their personal and financial details from scammers.
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There has been an increase in scams reported during tax time such as text messages claiming to be from myGov or from agencies claiming to help victims gain early access to their superannuation.
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Data from the ACCC’s annual Targeting Scams report, released this week, indicates scammers don’t discriminate and are targeting a range of different communities in Australia.
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Australians lost over $634 million to scams in 2019, according to the latest figures in the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report released today.
![Dog](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/2020-05/dog.jpg?itok=OGfEDj_8)
Australians have lost nearly $300,000 to puppy scams this year, and scammers have been particularly targeting those seeking a furry companion during social isolation.
![Scamwatch COVID-19 thumbnail](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/2020-04/SCAMWATCH-COVID-19_360x272.png?itok=hClu9yey)
Australians should be aware scammers are adapting existing technology to play on people’s fears around coronavirus and selling products claiming to prevent or cure the virus.
![Scamwatch COVID-19 thumbnail](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/2020-04/SCAMWATCH-COVID-19_360x272.png?itok=hClu9yey)
Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of the spread of coronavirus to exploit and play on the fears of consumers across Australia.