Phone scams nearly triple on this time last year

The ACCC has warned people – especially those unexpectedly working from home or in a heightened state of anxiety due to NSW lockdowns – to be sceptical of unexpected phone calls, texts and emails where the caller or sender insists the receiver has been billed for a purchase they did not make, their laptop or phone has been compromised, or their bank accounts have been hacked.

Scammers often tell targets to download remote control software like AnyDesk of TeamViewer, which can help give them access a victim’s bank accounts, emails and personal information.

This type of software is common and above board for IT support to use to monitor and assist remote working employees, but can also be used for nefarious purposes.

‘Independently source contact details’

“It is really important not to let anyone who contacts you out of the blue access your devices, as once you give them access, you have no way of knowing what the person will do to your computer or what programs they may install,” Ms Rickard said.

“If you receive contact from someone claiming to be from a telecommunications company, a technical support service provider or online marketplace, hang up.

“If you think the communication may have been legitimate, independently source the contact details for the organisation to contact them. Don’t use the contact details in the communication. Also, don’t click on any of the links.”

Proofpoint Australian and New Zealand area vice-president Crispin Kerr, whose software company specialises in enterprise security, said it was concerning to see Australians had already lost 80 per cent of the total amount reported to Scamwatch across the whole of 2020.

He said the latest Scamwatch report showed that scammers continue to steal Australians’ money and take advantage of challenging financial situations, especially with lockdowns.

“A clear trend that’s emerged over the year is that investment scams are disproportionately impacting Australians at a cost of more than $70 million. It’s a shame to see Australians affected by these cheap tricks, which typically promise some kind of way to get rich quickly,” he said.

“We can also see the clear impact of scammers preying on Australians’ emotions like fear and anxiety, with scams suggesting threats to life or arrest and identity theft among the highest losses and the number of scams reported.

“This kind of social engineering plays into the human condition and our vulnerabilities and unfortunately is proving to be very effective.”