Last week was ‘Scams Awareness Week’. Scamwatch.gov.au website has all you need to know about types of scams, the latest scams and how to report a scam. The Scamwatch tagline “Are you too smart to be scammed?” tells us we’re all susceptible to scams. Scamwatch research indicates that almost everyone has been exposed to a scam. Scams are clever, inventive and sophisticated. Scammers are professional and have developed a successful business model. So successful, Scamwatch reports Australians are set to lose a record amount to scams in 2019, with projections from losses reported to Scamwatch and other government agencies so far expected to exceed $532 million by the end of the year. And this is only what is reported. Many people feel so stupid at being scammed they are too embarrassed to admit the scam so keep quiet and don’t report it. All scammers are experts at playing upon your emotions and vulnerabilities. Scamwatch lists the key way scammers work: they try to gain your trust; they offer authentic looking phone numbers and websites as a verification procedure; they appeal to your emotions; create a sense of urgency and request you to do something immediately. Pretending to be from the Australian Taxation Office, ATO, is a widespread and lucrative scam. These scammers contact you by phone or email and insist on immediate payment of your tax bill to avoid large penalties. Almost everyone it seems has a bit of a guilty conscience over tax and scammers play on this. Don’t fall prey to scams and lose your money. Always be diligent, scammers never give up.
Living well on a shoestring 