AS we close in on Christmas its timely to tell you that scammers are also looking forward to the festive season when people are a little more relaxed.
The shocking statistic revealed recently in a RACQ investigation says close to half of Queenslanders (43 per cent) have been contacted by a scammer in the recent weeks, and our digitally savvy younger generation have also been caught out.
According to the report, Queenslanders 75 years and older are the more vulnerable age group to fall victim to a scam (21 per cent), and younger people (18–24 years) are also surprisingly being caught in the scammer’s net (17 per cent).
More than half the people surveyed said they had been contacted by a scammer via phone, while a quarter were sent an email and many others an SMS.
RACQ Senior Financial Crimes Analyst Erin Short said these alarming findings reinforced the need for all Queenslanders to be extra vigilant.
“Everyone is vulnerable to scams and fraud activity. While our research tells us the majority feel confident in their ability to identity a scam, people should never be complacent,” Ms Short said.
“Fraudsters are becoming more prevalent and the recent data leaks will only increase the sophistication of these scams.
“Unfortunately, with more personal information in the cloud, offenders will use this data to make themselves appear more legitimate to gain your trust, access your devices and your funds.”
When it comes to protecting yourself against the rising threat of scams, Ms Short said education and awareness was the best defence.
“Talk to your friends and family about the latest scams, so everyone knows what to be on the lookout for,” she said.
“Phishing scams, where fraudsters attempt to trick you into giving out personal and/or financial information, and remote access scams, where a scammer attempts to gain remote control over your computer, are the most common scams reported by our members.
“Remember, your bank will never ask you for your PIN or internet banking password. They will also never ask to gain remote access to your computer or device.”
Ms Short said Queenslanders should also be on alert to identify theft with reports of more and more people falling victim to hackers.
“Sadly, we’re starting to see more cases of people having their identity stolen and this can have a significant emotional and financial impact. It’s more important than ever to check your bank account transactions regularly and notify your bank immediately of any suspicious activity.”
Ms Short recommended contacting IDCare if you have concerns that your identity had been compromised.
TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST SCAM ACTIVITIES:
- Don’t click on links in unexpected messages – retype the link manually into the search bar to ensure you’re being directed to the correct location
- When you receive an unexpected call, ask for the company’s main phone number, and say you will call them back
- Don’t provide others access to your devices or internet banking
- Use strong passwords for your accounts and don’t share them
- Install anti-virus software on your devices and keep it up to date
- Limit what personal information you share about yourself online
- Be cautious when people contact you who you don’t know
- Verify and validate payment details to ensure the information provided is legitimate
