Displaying items by tag: SCAMwatch

The Federal Government says it has taken strong action to shut down scam text messages, making an important regulatory amendment empowering the telecommunication sector to identify and block SMS scams at source.

“Let’s talk scams” is the theme adopted by more than 350 partners across government, private and community organisations who have joined the fight against scams in this year’s national Scams Awareness Week.

Middle aged and older Australians suffered the brunt of scams in September with those aged 45 to 54 the hardest hit financially during the month and the aged 65 and over reporting the highest number of scams at 5,642.

Australians have lost over $70 million to bogus investment scams in the first half of this year and a massive increase in losses are predicted by the end of the year, according to the consumer watchdog the ACCC.

New South Wales residents were the most financially impacted by scams in July, accounting for 37% of the total amount lost in the month.

Security provider Proofpoint notes the massive growth in scams reported in the latest Scamwatch report, drawing attention to the fact that Australian losses to scammers reached 80% of 2020's total in just six months.

Scammers have stolen more than $7.2 million from Australians so far this year by gaining access to home computers, an increase of 184% compared to the same period last year.

Telstra announced a further milestone in its “Cleaner Pipes” initiative protecting Telstra customers, blocking on average 13 million scam calls per month.

Australia’s second largest telco Optus says that in 10 years working together with global anti-phishing and online brand protection company FraudWatch they have taken down more than 3,171 phishing emails, brand abuse, fake mobile apps and fake social media sites.

Australians have already lost over $288,000 to vehicle scams in the first quarter of this year, more than all losses reported to Scamwatch in 2019, and scammers have now begun impersonating defence personnel to con their victims, according to the consumer watchdog, the ACCC.

Australian businesses reported over $14 million in losses to Scamwatch due to payment redirection scams last year, and average losses so far in 2021 are more than five times higher compared to average losses in the same period in 2020, according to the ACCC.

Scammers are using telephone calls, SMS messages and emails to take advantage of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

When it comes to holiday time, we can let our guard down as we relax a little, with 2020 perhaps causing people to relax a little too much. Here's what Australian Mobile Telecommunications Australia CEO Chris Althaus says we should all be aware of this holiday season.

Australians have been warned to be careful when buying gifts this holiday season as losses to online shopping scams have already increased 42% this year as the country enters the busy Christmas-New Year period.

Young people are reporting the highest losses to threat-based scams, with Australians having lost over $8.8 million to the scams so far this year, and people aged 24 and under reporting losing more than $4.1 million to the scams.

Australians have already lost over $300,000 to rental and accommodation scams this year - an increase of 76% compared to the same time last year - by responding to fake advertisements posted on real estate or classified websites.

National Broadband Network operator NBN Co has launched a community education campaign focusing on the threat of scams and warning that scammers are increasing their focus to “deceive Australians”, with new and variations of common NBN themed scams emerging in recent months.

Over $1.26 million has been lost by Australians to government impersonation scams, according to a new report from the ACCC’s Scamwatch service.

Australians lost over $634 million to scams in 2019, according to the latest Scamwatch report from the consumer watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Australians looking for a cuddly puppy to provide them with some solace during the enforced lockdown cause by the coronavirus pandemic have been scammed to the tune of about $300,000, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned.