Notice: Be aware of email scammer impersonating COTA NT

7 Jan 2025

One of our Members has alerted us to a scammer impersonating COTA NT through email. The email appeared to be from a COTA NT styled email address and included an attachment. It went into the Member’s spam folder.

This email was not sent by COTA NT and the email address used is not owned or used by the organisation. 

You can check if a message is a real by contacting us directly on 08 8941 1004 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm except public holidays)

Review the advice from Government’s Scamwatch website on email scams (https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/email-scams).

Steps you can take to protect yourself

Source: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams

• Check that a message is real by either:
  • contacting the person or organisation directly using contact details you’ve found yourself on the organisations official website or,
  • accessing the organisations’ secure, authenticated portal or app (never via a link).
• Immediately cut contact with anyone who tries to threaten or intimidate you.
• Don’t open or download any attachments or apps as these can install malicious software on to your computer or phone.
• Watch out for slight variations in Caller or Sender IDs like dots, special characters, or numbers.
• If someone you know sends a message to say they have a new phone number:
  • try to call them on the existing number you have for them
  • message them on the new number with a question only they would know the answer to. That way you will know if they are who they say they are.
• Don’t click on links in text messages or emails.
• Find steps to keep your email secure on eSafety – Australia’s independent regulator for online safety.
• Read more about how to have safer, more positive online experiences on eSafety.