From an email enticing you to click on a link and confirm your banking details, to card skimming or a ‘get rich quick’ phone scam, consumers now face a minefield of risks from sophisticated scammers. All of these scams are generally designed to entice you to disclose your personal information and/or possibly send money overseas to unknown persons.
Online fraud or ‘cybercrime’ is now one of the most common types of fraud, along with identity fraud, and financial fraud, using electronic funds transfer, cheque and credit cards.
Community CPS is committed to helping our members avoid fraud at all costs. Throughout this section we have provided tips and hints as well as handy links to informative web sites.
Follow these rules to avoid fraud…
- Stay informed of the latest fraud alerts. An excellent and easy way to do this is to join the SCAMWATCH email list to receive regular email alerts. The SCAMWATCH web site has been created by the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce and is devoted to helping recognise, report and protect yourself from scams. You can join the email list here.
- Keep anti-virus protection software on your computer up-to-date.
- Avoid using public computers (libraries, Internet cafes, airline lounges etc) for any Internet Banking or entry of personal information - you cannot be sure of the security measures in place to protect your information.
- If you receive an unsolicited email or are in any doubt in relation to any email received – DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY.
- Never click on a link, open an attachment or call a phone number in an unsolicited email.
- Never give out your personal information to anyone you don’t know or trust.
- Order a free copy of your credit report once a year to make sure no-one is using your identity to borrow money or run up debts.
- Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
