Stay Smart Online Week is an annual awareness-raising week organised by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and this year it runs from 21–25 May 2018. Australians are urged to be on the lookout for threat-based impersonation scams by taking a moment to ask ‘is this for real?’

How these scams work 

If you received a call out of the blue from someone saying you had a tax debt that you had to pay immediately or you’d be arrested – what would you think? If Telstra called you and said there were internet problems in your area and they needed remote access to your computer to help you, otherwise they would disconnect your service – what would you do?

These are examples of threat-based impersonation scams. Their aim is to scare you into parting with your money or personal information and if you don’t, they threaten you with fines, disconnecting your internet, taking you to court, arrest or even deportation. The scammers work hard to make sure their threats seem genuine and frightening.

Many people have fallen victim to this type of scam. In 2017, over $4.7 million was reported lost and more than 2,800 people were coerced into sharing their personal information.

How you can protect yourself 

If you’re contacted unexpectedly and threatened by someone that says they’re from a government agency or trusted business, always consider the possibility that it may be a scam — then stop and check ‘is this for real?’

Tips:

• When dealing with unexpected contact from government agencies or trusted businesses – whether over the phone, by email or through social media – always consider the possibility that it may be a scam.
• Don’t be pressured by a threatening caller. Hang up then check whether their story is real. You can verify the identity of the contact through an independent source, such as a phone book or online search. Don’t use the contact details provided by the caller or in the message they sent to you.
• Never send money, give your bank account or credit card details, or other personal information to anyone you don’t know or trust.
• Don’t open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or emails and don’t click on links or open attachments, just delete them.
• Never give anyone remote access to your computer if they’ve contacted you out of the blue – whether through a phone call, pop up window or email – and even if they claim to be from a well-known company that you know and trust.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

If you’ve lost money or given personal information to a scammer, there are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss:

• If you’ve sent money or shared your banking or credit card details, contact us immediately. The quicker you contact us the quicker we may be able to stop or reverse a transaction, or close your account.
• If you’ve given your personal information to a scammer, visit IDCARE, Australia’s not-for-profit national identity and cyber support service. IDCARE can work with you to develop a specific response plan to your situation, and support you through the process.
• As scammers are often based overseas, it’s extremely difficult to track them down or to take action against them. So take the time to warn your friends and family about these scams.

To report a scam, visit the Scamwatch website.

Where to go for more information

For more tips and information about these scams or where to get help, visit the Stay Smart Online website.