What is a scam (and what isn't)
Anyone can be targeted by scammers, and the impact of scams can be massive in terms of the financial and emotional impact. Scams are constantly evolving and are now becoming very personalised, which can make it difficult to tell what is a scam and when it is happening.
We want to make sure you feel safe while staying connected. We're providing some information below to help you better understand what a scam is, what is not a scam, and what you should look out for.
What is a scam?
A scam is an attempt to deceive a consumer into making a payment or giving personal information to a scammer, including using a regulated service such as over some telecommunications service, financial services and/or via digital platforms. Something can be regarded as a scam even if it is not successful and does not lead to loss.
The common thread across all scams is deception that leads you (or tries to lead you) to act: a scammer deliberately misleads you about who they are, what they want, or what will happen, so that you make a payment or disclose personal information.
If you spot a scam, or believe you are being targeted by a scam:
What is not a scam?
Activities such as fraud (i.e. payments made with a stolen credit card), cybercrime (i.e. hacking and data breaches), extortion (i.e. transactions made under verbal or physical threat), and the sale of faulty or misrepresented products or services are different to scams.
These activities are covered by criminal law and consumer law.
- If you are under threat of violence, please contact the Police on Triple Zero (000).
- If your banking details or credit card have been compromised, please contact your bank or financial institution.
- If your account details have been compromised in a cyberhack or data breach, please update your password and consider implementing additional security measures like two-factor authentication.
- If you purchased a faulty or misrepresented product or service, please contact the supplier or manufacturer, and if the matter cannot be resolved, the ACCC.
You can learn more about the definition of a scam in the Scams Prevention Framework.
How to spot a scam
Spotting a scam relies on you being aware and attentive to the messages, calls, texts, social media posts and emails you receive. If a message (such a direct message on social media, or a text message over the phone) or social media post asks you to act quickly, send money, authenticate your account or refresh your personal details, it’s likely a scam. Scamwatch recommends three simple steps to protect yourself against scams:
- STOP and think. Is this expected?
- CHECK if it is real or not. The online account or phone number contacting you could be illegitimate.
- PROTECT by reporting the issue immediately to your service providers, even if you’re unsure.
Play a part in preventing scams
Everyone plays a role in preventing scams. We're focused on keeping you safe while staying connected, but it's important that we all stay alert to the threat of scams.
You can keep yourself scam safe by:
- Protecting your passwords and regularly updating them
- Reporting suspicious activity, such as possible scams you spot online
- Verifying unusual requests that you receive and remaining alert to unexpected contact