What to look for

It’s easier to spot a scam if you know what to look for. Be careful if:

• someone you don’t know contacts you out of the blue
• someone asks you to pay for something or give them money by unusual payment methods
• such as gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrencies
• someone you’ve never met in person asks for money
• something sounds too good to be true – like an online shopping deal or you’ve won a
• competition, have unclaimed inheritance, or been invited to invest in an ‘amazing’ scheme
• someone asks you to pay for something in advance – especially by an unusual payment method
• someone asks you for personal information – like your bank details or passwords or access to your computer
• someone pressures you into buying something or making a decision quickly.

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Further information and reading

• www.scamwatch.gov.au – a reliable source of information on scams and a place to report scams
• The impact of scams
• How scammers work
• How to protect yourself
• Where to seek help

Source: Information is provided by Australian Competition & Consumer Commission