The holiday season should be a time to celebrate and spend time with loved ones. Unfortunately, many Aussies risk falling victim to holiday scams. With full calendars, school holidays and extra life admin taking our focus, the festive season presents prime conditions for scammers to strike. Here are three scams to watch out for!
1. Phishing scams
The holidays are a busy time, and scams catch us out when our guard is down - particularly phishing scams. These scams involve impersonation of a trusted organisation like your bank or the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Scammers will contact you via phone, text or email and try to get you to hand over personal information. Both individuals and businesses can be a target for these scams.
How to stay safe
Be vigilant with any form of communication that asks for your information. Don't click links or enter your login credentials in texts or emails you receive. Always contact these organisations directly via the contact information listed on their official website, and not the links in the message.
2. Facebook Marketplace scams
Using Facebook Marketplace to snap up preloved gifts, or to sell unwanted items is a great idea! But scams on resale sites are on the rise – such as scammers targeting victims by asking for personal details to organise payments.
How to stay safe
Be vigilant when buying and selling on resale sites and look out for anything unusual. Scammers may be keen to buy your items without even seeing them and claim they're sending a family member or courier to collect.
3. Parcel delivery scams
As many of us turn to online shopping to avoid holiday crowds, parcel delivery scams are on the rise. Victims may receive a text message or an email noting that their parcel is missing or undelivered, with a link to rectify the issue. The link then prompts victims to enter personal data or payment information.
How to stay safe
Be vigilant of any text, email or phone communications, and where possible, avoid clicking on links. Contact the organisation directly, and don't hand over any personal information – no matter how legit it looks.
For more information visit Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank at 37 Broad Street to pick up a FREE copy of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Little Black Book of Scams for a more in-depth look at what scams are circulating, and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones.
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