How scammers work
Scams are always changing and everyone is a target.
- Scammers are getting smarter and are taking advantage of new technology.
- Many people believe they would never fall for a scam.
- Scammers try to get money or steal your personal details so they can pretend to be you.
- You can be scammed in different ways – online, phone, post or in person.
- Scammers use all sorts of tactics to prey on their victims:
- We tend to comply with requests from authority figures – scammers often pretend to be a
government official.
- We often trust those we know – scammers try to gain trust by claiming to be from a
well-known business or impersonate a known contact.
- Scammers will suggest their own verification procedures, like going to websites they have created or calling numbers they provide to you.
- Scammers know how to appeal to your emotions and press your buttons to get what they want.
- Scammers create a sense of urgency to get you to make decisions without thinking.
- Reporting scams can help others from falling victim.
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Further information and reading
Source: Information is provided by Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
