Scamwatch is urging people to be extra vigilant about scams after Australians reported a record $211 million in losses to scams so far this year, an 89 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to new data from Scamwatch. The losses, reported between 1 January and 19 September, have already surpassed…
Tag Archive for scamwatch
A Rise in Romance Baiting Scams
by themovieboards - Editor •
Australians reported a record-breaking $37 million lost to Scamwatch last year for dating and romance scams. Total losses are expected to be much higher and scammers are now using dating apps to lure victims into investment scams. This new technique, called romance baiting, involves scammers meeting people on dating apps and then moving the conversation…
Australians under 25 lost over $5 million to scams in 2019
by themovieboards - Editor •
Australians under 25 lost over $5 million to scams in 2019 and reports made from this age group are increasing faster than older generations. In 2019, around 12,000 (7.15 per cent) reports made to Scamwatch were from people under the age of 25, an increase of 11 per cent compared to 2018 figures. Reports from…
Lookout for Romance Scammers
by themovieboards - Editor •
Scamwatch is urging tech-savvy daters to be on the lookout for romance scammers this Valentine’s Day as data shows these scams are increasingly happening through social media and dating apps. “Scammers tend to go where people are, and in the dating world that increasingly means on social media and dating apps,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia…
ACCC Warns Beware of Charity Scams
by themovieboards - Editor •
Scammers are increasingly using fake charities or impersonating real charities to take advantage of people’s generosity and compassion, with losses reported to the ACCC’s Scamwatch increasing steadily over the past four years. This week is Charity Fraud Awareness Week and Scamwatch is warning people to watch out for fake charities and offering some quick and…
Beware of Celebrity Endorsement Scams
by themovieboards - Editor •
People are increasingly being caught out by celebrity endorsement scams, with reports to Scamwatch increasing 400 per cent and losses increasing a staggering 3,800 per cent so far in 2018. These scams often appear as online advertisements or promotional stories on social media or a seemingly legitimate, trustworthy website. They include fictitious quotes and doctored…
$45 Mill lost to scams in 2015
by themovieboards - Editor •
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is urging the community not to send money or personal details to strangers after $45 million was reported lost to scams already this year and 45,000 complaints made. “Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to get your money or personal details. Scams succeed because they look like…
Bogus Qantas holiday scam
by themovieboards - Editor •
SCAMwatch and Qantas are warning people about automated calls from scammers posing as Qantas staff claiming that they’ve won a credit towards their next holiday. An ACCC spokesman explained that reports have been received from both consumers and businesses about these scam calls, where the recipient picks up the phone and hears a recorded message…