Coronavirus scams soar, targeting people accessing super early
Scammers have taken advantage of the coronavirus crisis to prey on unsuspecting Aussies, with a surprising group most likely to fall victim.
The number of scams targeting Australians has soared as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with tens of millions of dollars lost as a result.
According to alarming new statistics from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), identity theft has grown by 55 per cent compared with last year, while Scamwatch has received 24,000 reports of stolen personal information this year alone.
The theft of personal details has resulted in combined losses of $22 million – and surprisingly, people in the 25-to-34 age group are the most common victims.
National Scams Awareness Week kicked off on Monday, and ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said there had been a “sharp increase” in scammers seeking personal information as more Aussies have been working and socialising online during the coronavirus crisis.
“Personal information, such as bank and superannuation details or passwords, are extremely valuable and scammers will try to steal them for their own financial gain. Our increased use of technology has created more opportunities for them to do so,” Ms Rickard said.
“Scammers will also try and steal a range of other documents, or the numbers associated with them, including passports, driver’s licences, credit cards, tax statements, utility bills or Medicare cards, so that they can impersonate you.”
The increase in people working from home has seen scams soar. Picture: iStockSource:istock
Phishing scams are the most common type, and are up a massive 44 per cent this year.
The ACCC warned that scammers were pretending to be from government departments and businesses, such as the ATO, myGov, Telstra or the NBN, in order to gain bank account details and other information about a person that can be used to impersonate them.
Once a scammer has that information, they can then use it to access individuals’ bank accounts or superannuation, take out loans under their names and impersonate them on social media to try to get money from family and friends.
“Scam victims who have lost personal information are vulnerable to further scams, fraud or identity theft,” Ms Rickard said.
“If you do have your identity stolen, it can take years to recover and people can end up losing more than money. Not only time in trying to undo the damage done financially, but it can also impact greatly on your mental health.
“Never give your personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know or trust via email, text, social media or over the phone.”
To protect yourself, the ACCC advises Aussies to never give away personal information to someone who has contacted you.
Never click on links in unexpected emails or messages, even if it appears to have come from a legitimate source, and always use strong passwords for your accounts and internet network, which should never be shared with others.
Antivirus software should also be installed on your devices and you should also limit what personal information you share about yourself online, including on social media.
The ACCC has also launched a podcast series, This Is Not Your Life, for this year’s National Scams Awareness Week to provide Australians with tips on how to protect their personal and financial details from scammers.
Originally published on news.com.au
By Alexis Carey
