Scams - It's Personal

Scammers do not stop at anything to target victims, including adopting a personal touch.

Increasingly scammers are finding ways to get information about your personal profile and use this to play on your relationships with people and organisations you know and trust.

The effects of scams on victims can be devastating and scammers don’t discriminate – they’ll target anyone, using a myriad of ways to slip under your radar including phone calls, SMS, letter, email, fax, blog, online chat or dating service.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe:

• PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY - Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers
• DON’T RESPOND - Ignore suspicious emails, letters, phone calls or text messages – press ‘delete’, throw them out or just hang up
• DON’T LET SCAMMERS PUSH YOUR BUTTONS - Scammers will play on your emotions to get what they want
• RESIST THE PERSONAL TOUCH - Watch out for scammers posing as someone that you know and trust, or pretending to know you. It is important to protect your identity and if you are suspicious that you have been scammed, report it to us.

For more information visit http://www.scamwatch.gov.au