https://cryptocrunchapp.com/news/long-anticipated-bitcoin-halving-event-is-almost-here
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Bitcoin Moves Towards $8,000 As Halving Event Gets Closer
https://usethebitcoin.com/bitcoin-moves-towards-8000-as-halving-event-gets-closer/
Bitcoin Moves Towards $8,000 As Halving Event Gets Closer
https://usethebitcoin.com/bitcoin-moves-towards-8000-as-halving-event-gets-closer/
Scams - Part 1
Hotlines & Defence Resources:
Australia National Security >>1800 123 400 or if you are overseas: +61 1300 1234 01, Mail: Department of Home Affairs, PO Box 25, Belconnen ACT 2616, Email: [hotline@nationalsecurity.gov.au](mailto:hotline@nationalsecurity.gov.au) >> https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/national-security/security-coordination/national-security-hotline
Australia Police Emergency >> 000
Victoria Police Non-Emergency >> 131 444
Victoria Police Online Reporting >> Theft, Lost Property, Property Damage, Register your Party, Register your Absence from Residence >> https://onlinereporting.police.vic.gov.au/
Australia Ministry of Defence >> https://www.defence.gov.au/Contacts/
Australia Federal Police >> https://www.afp.gov.au/contact-us
Australia Secret Intelligence >> http://www.asis.gov.au/About-Us/Contact-us.html
Australia Cybersecurity Centre >> https://www.cyber.gov.au/
Agency Cybercrime Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) >> www.acorn.gov.au
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) >> www.acma.gov.au or call the ACMA Customer Service Centre on 1300 850 115
Google "Your suburb name" council hotline to contact your Mayor for assistance
Crime Stoppers >> 1800 333 000
Google "Snap Send Solve" app to report local issues.
Neighbourhood Watch >> www.nhw.com.au Join the local Neighbourhood Watch Facebook/newsletters to learn about personal safety, home security and local crime trends.
Consumer Fraud Reporting >> https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/current_top_10_scam_list.php
Stay Smart Online Service—www.staysmartonline.gov.au • CyberSmart website—www.cybersmart.gov.au • Stay Smart Online guides—available at www.staysmartonline.gov.au/get-involved/guides.
Where to find help or support
If you’ve lost money to a scam or given out your personal details to a scammer, you’re unlikely to get your money back. However, there are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.
Contact your bank or credit union If you’ve sent money or personal banking information to a scammer, contact your bank or credit union immediately. They may be able to stop a money transfer or cheque, or close your account if the scammer has your account details. Your credit card provider may be able to perform a ‘chargeback’ (reverse the transaction) if your credit card was billed fraudulently.
Recover your stolen identity. If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, you must act quickly to reduce your risk of financial loss or other damages.
Contact IDCARE—a free, government-funded service that provides support to victims of identity crime. IDCARE can help you to develop a response plan to take the appropriate steps for repairing damage to your reputation, credit history and identity. Visit the IDCARE website at www.idcare.org or call 1300 432 273.
Apply for a Commonwealth Victims’ Certificate—a certificate helps support your claim that you’ve been the victim of identity crime and can be used to help re-establish your credentials with government or financial institutions. Visit the Attorney-General’s Department at www.ag.gov.au (or call 02 6141 6666) to learn more about protecting and recovering your identity.
Contact a counselling or support service If you or someone you know has been scammed and may be suffering from emotional stress or depression, please talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust. You may also consider contacting counselling or support services, such as Lifeline—when you need support in a crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 1114 (24/7) or visit www.lifeline.org.au.
Beyondblue—for information about depression or anxiety, contact beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
Kids helpline—telephone and online counselling and support service for young people aged between five and 25 years. Contact Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or visit www.kidshelpline.com.au.
Financial Counselling Australia—if you are in financial distress call 1800 007 007 to talk to a free financial counsellor or visit www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au.
Where to report a scam
You can help others by reporting fraud to the appropriate authorities. Your information will help these organisations build a better picture of the latest scams and warn other people about what to look out for.
The following organisations take reports about particular types of scams.
The Little Black Book of Scams is available free online at www.accc.gov.au/littleblackbookofscams.
Protect yourself—sign up to Scamwatch www.scamwatch.gov.au —where you can sign up for free email alerts on new scams targeting consumers and small businesses. You can also follow Scamwatch on Twitter at @scamwatch_gov or http://twitter.com/scamwatch_gov.
How Scam savvy are you? >Take the quiz at consumer.vic.gov.au/scams
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) >> www.moneysmart.gov.au or call the ASIC infoline on 1300 300 630
For Tax-related scams,>> Australian Taxation Office (ATO)—to report a tax scam or verify whether a person contacting you from the ATO is legitimate: • call 1800 008 540 or forward your email tax scam to [ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au](mailto:ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au).
Consumer Protection Agencies >>
Consumer Affairs Victoria provides information to business, consumers, landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities >> https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/about-us 1300 558 181
Dispute Settlement centre >> www.disputes.vic.gov.au >> DSCV can help you resolve all sorts of disputes, including common neighbourhood disputes involving fences, trees, animals, noise and drainage, difficult or anti-social behaviour, workplace disputes, disputes within committees, clubs or Incorporated Associations, matters referred to mediation by a magistrate
Australian Capital Territory Office of Regulatory Services www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au 13 2281
New South Wales Fair Trading www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au 13 3220
Northern Territory Consumer Affairs www.consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au 1800 019 319
Queensland Office of Fair Trading www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au 13 7468
South Australia Consumer and Business Services www.cbs.sa.gov.au/ 13 1882
Tasmania Consumer, Building and Occupational Services www.cbos.tas.gov.au/ 1300 654 499
Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety www.consumerprotection. wa.gov.au/ 1300 304 054
- What resources can you learn more about the latest local scams?
- Watch current affairs news segment.
- Visit website that watches scams (google it)
- Subscribe to scam watch newsletters to get the latest scam that is going around details.
- Talk to people and your family and friends.
The golden rules to protect yourself
Generally, the hardest way is the way to make the most money. Don't fall for getting lots of money quick schemes. You will find yourself homeless very soon.
Be alert to the fact that scams exist. When dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, whether it’s over the phone, by mail, email, in person or on a social networking site, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Know who you’re dealing with. If you’ve only ever met someone online or are unsure of the legitimacy of a business, take some time to do a bit more research. Do a Google image search on photos or search the internet for others who may have had dealings with them.
Keep your personal details secure. Put a lock on your mailbox and shred your bills and other important documents before throwing them out. Keep your passwords and pin numbers in a safe place.
Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social media sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.
Beware of unusual payment methods. Scammers often ask for payment by wire transfers, preloaded cards and even Google Play, Steam, or iTunes cards and Bitcoin. These are nearly always a sign that it is part of a scam.
Protect yourself
A tiny minority of business advertisements and flyers are a way for criminals to entrap victims.
Go to the police for an official police check document for employment. There are scammers and dodgy companies that do invalid police checks.
If someone calls you to offer you a good telecom deal and want your pin number, you should hang up.
If you are unsure, contact the Police non-emergency hotline or contact the authority hotline after googling yourself.
Home scams:
Recent scams for older adults to be aware of are:
• door knocks from people claiming to be officers from Council offering services such as home care packages; and
• phone calls from people claiming to be from organisations that offer home care packages and services with cheaper costs.
It is important to remember that the Council do not randomly knock on peoples doors offering to sell services. Council officers will only show up at a pre-arranged time to provide home care services, such as cleaning and personal care. Council officers carry ID badges and will produce them on request.
If you are unsure, contact the council's service centre by phone to check that the person is employed by the Council and ask to speak to their supervisor.
All home care packages and services are accessed through My Aged Care. If you do get a call, tell them you will think about the offer and phone the My Aged Care contact centre. The staff at My Aged Care can tell you if the organisation is a registered provider and give you the correct phone number to call and discuss. Chances are the person does not work for the organisation, or the organisation doesn't exist.
As the weather warms up, scammers and conmen are out again with offers to fix your roof for a low price - but only if you pay now. Always ask them to give you a quote and get another quote from a trusted source - there is an excellent chance nothing is wrong with your roof.
If the scammer/conmen insist on you paying now and offer to drive you to an ATM or bank, alarm bells should ring.
Points to remember:
> Never use a phone number or other contact details they have given you, check with someone you trust as there is a good possibility the contact details are to another conman ready to take the call;
> Never pay with vouchers such as iTunes purchased at the supermarket; and
> If you feel threatened and go to the bank with them, tell the bank teller you are feeling threatened and being forced to take the money out. They have been trained in how to assist you.
- A fake tradesman asks you if you want to get some painting done cheaper than you can get anywhere else.
- Then the rain comes, and it washes out into the garden.
- How do fake tradesman deal with your roof?
- They lure you by saying you are too old to climb up the ladder. They go up pretend to fix stuff. Stomp around and crack more tiles
- They usually ask for cash up front, then say need to go to the hardware store to get supplies, disappear.
- They offer you a pressure deal that for today only you get this deal at $x then they run away with the money.
Revealing sensitive information over the phone
Identity thieves love to dupe individuals—particularly ones that are elderly and vulnerable—into revealing their information by pretending to be from their bank or insurance company. They will try to get information by offering fake deals, like credit card cashback offers or free trips—so if you ever get a phone call about a deal that sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.
When in doubt, call your credit card provider or bank directly to verify the offer is actually from them before revealing any information about yourself—or better yet, just don't pick up from unknown numbers at all. Instead, wait until they've left a message and then Google the number to see if it's legit.
Using SMS for two-factor authentication
"Using SMS as two-factor authentication is not recommended," says Rodriguez. Why? Well, according to the tech expert, SMS—the technology used for text messages—is relatively easy to hack. So it's always safer to use a more secure app like Google Authenticator or Authy, than merely having potentially-sensitive information sent via text.
Not picking up your mail regularly
Opening someone else's letter might be a crime, but that's not stopping scammers from doing it anyway. Correspondence from your bank, credit card company or the IRS could have everything from account numbers to your social security number on it, making it easy for scammers to steal your identity.
Responding to suspicious sweepstakes
That pop-up message claiming that you just won a free cruise to the Bahamas is almost certainly a ploy by a scammer to get money and information out of you. According to the FTC, you can usually tell whether a sweepstake is a scam when you have to pay to enter or deposit the check you've won and then wire some of the money back.
Throwing private information in the trash
Scammers often obtain your personal data "through discarded personal documents such as utility bills, insurance renewals, or health care records," the ACCC warns. Before discarding sensitive documents, first run them through a shredder. If you don't have one, make sure to rip and destroy all of your papers until the information on them is no longer legible, or get a text-obscuring rolling stamp to cover it up.
The top scams to avoid
Everyone is vulnerable to scams, so everyone needs information about how to identify and avoid being scammed. Some people think that only the gullible and greedy fall victim to scams. The truth is scammers are intelligent, and if you don’t know what to look out for, anyone can fall victim to a scam.
Have you received an offer that seems too good to be true, perhaps a phone call to help fix your computer or a threat to pay the money you do not owe, an alert from your bank or telecommunications provider about a problem with your account or even an invitation to ‘befriend’ or connect online? Scammers know how to press your buttons to get what they want.
They are getting smarter, moving with the times to take advantage of new technology, new products or services and major events to create believable stories that will convince you to part with your money or personal details.
However, thanks to the tens of thousands of scam reports received every year, the ACCC has prepared a list of common scams to reveal
Threat and penalty scams
If a government authority or trusted company is telling you to pay up, stop, think and double-check.
How the scam works
Instead of offering a prize, money or rebate, these scams use threats designed to frighten you into handing over your money. The scammer may call you and threaten you with arrest or send you an email claiming you owe money for a speeding fine, a tax office debt or an unpaid bill.
During the phone call, scammers will pressure you into paying immediately and tell you the police will be sent to your house if you refuse. Scammers have been known to target vulnerable people in our community, such as newly arrived migrants. They pretend to be Immigration Department officials and threaten victims with deportation unless fees are paid to correct errors in their visas. A very similar scam involves the scammer pretending to be from the Australian Tax Office telling their victims they have an outstanding tax bill.
Scammers also pretend to be trusted companies such as your bank, gas, electricity, water or phone provider. They will threaten to cancel your service or charge you excessive penalty fees if you don’t pay the bill immediately. Sometimes they may impersonate a business like Australia Post stating you have an item to pick up or you will be charged a holding fee every day you don’t pay. Whatever the case, they try to make you worried and act without stopping to think and check that the story is true.
If the scam is sent by email, it is likely to include an attachment or link to a fake website where you will be asked to download proof of the ‘bill’, ‘fine’ or ‘delivery details’. Opening the attachment or downloading the file will result in infecting your computer with malware (see page 16).
Protect yourself
• Don’t be pressured by a threatening caller. Stop, think and check whether their story is true. • A government agency or trusted company will never ask you to pay by unusual methods such as by gift card, wire transfers or Bitcoins. • Verify the identity of the contact by calling the relevant organisation directly—find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search. • Do not use the contact details provided in emails or given to you during phone calls. Again, find them through an independent source.
Unexpected money scams
If you are asked to provide payments before receiving goods or money, think twice.
How the scam works
Scammers tell you out of the blue that you are entitled to money, precious gems, gold or valuable shares, but you need to make upfront payments to get them. You will never receive what was promised, and there will always be an excuse for why you have to pay more. If you pay the fees, you will lose your money.
Rebate or reclaim scams involve a scammer telling you that you are owed money for reasons such as overpaid taxes, bank fees or some sort of compensation. However, before you can get your money, you are asked to pay a small administration fee.
With inheritance scams, scammers pose as lawyers, bankers or foreign officials and tell you that you are entitled to a large inheritance or offer you a share in a scheme because you have the same name as someone who died. They often use official-looking documents and ask you to make payments for fees and taxes before you can receive the inheritance. They can also ask for your personal details to fill out ‘official paperwork’. This means that you might have your identity stolen as well as your money.
Commonly called Nigerian scams may have originated in West Africa but can come from anywhere in the world. They involve scammers telling you they need your help to secure a vast fortune which they are desperately trying to transfer out of their country. They may claim the estate is a hidden stash of money, gold or assets abandoned by a corrupt government or official and if you agree to receive it, they will give you a large share when it is safe to do so. Like all of these scams, they will say you first need to pay taxes, bank charges or fees for anti-terrorism and money laundering checks before they can send the money.
These scams commonly come from overseas and ask for payment via wire transfer but may also ask for bank transfers or other payment methods.
If you fall for these scams, you will never receive anything from the scammer and lose any money you sent.
Protect yourself
• Remember there are no get-rich-quick schemes: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. • Avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, pre-loaded card or electronic currency. It is rare to recover money sent this way. • If an unsolicited email looks suspicious, just delete it. Don’t click on any links. • Government departments, banks or utilities will never contact you asking you to pay money upfront to claim a fee or rebate. • If you are unsure, check the identity of the contact independently.
Do not use the contact details provided in the message sent to you—get correct contact details through an independent source such as a phone book or online search. • Conduct a search online using the exact wording of the offer— many scams can be identified this way.
Prize and lottery scams
Don’t be lured by a surprise win— only the scammer takes home a windfall.
How the scam works
These scams try to trick you into giving money upfront or your personal details to receive a prize from a lottery, sweepstake or competition that you never entered. Scammers claim that you need to pay fees or taxes before your ‘winnings’ or reward can be released. You may also have to call or send a text to a premium rate phone number to claim your prize.
Scratchie scams involve getting mail containing glossy brochures and several scratchie cards, one of which will be a winner. To make it more believable, it will often be a second or third prize. When you call to claim your prize, the scammers will ask for fees or taxes to be paid before you can get your winnings.
Lottery scams may use the names of real overseas lotteries to claim that you’ve won cash, even though you never entered into them.
Scammers typically ask for fees or taxes to release the funds. They will also tell you they need your personal details to prove you are the correct winner but then use this information to steal your identity or money from your bank account.
Fake vouchers and gift cards involve scammers sending you an email or text message or a social media message claiming you have won a gift card for a well-known retailer, but you need to provide some details before you can claim it. This is an attempt to get personal information which can be used for identity theft or to target you with another scam. Offers like these have also been known to deliver ransomware on your device.
Travel prize scams involve scammers claiming you’ve won a free holiday or airfares. In fact, what you’ve actually won is the chance to buy accommodation or flight vouchers. These travel vouchers often have hidden fees and conditions or maybe fake and worthless.
Similarly, scammers may offer you amazing discounted holiday packages that just don’t exist.
Protect yourself
• Remember: you cannot win money in a lottery or competition unless you entered. • Contests and lotteries do not require you to pay a fee to collect winnings—conduct a search online using the exact wording of the offer. It may help confirm that it’s a scam. • Think twice before calling or text messaging a phone number starting with ‘19’—they are charged at premium rates.
Job and employment scams
Significant income—guaranteed? Unlikely!
How the scam works
Job and employment scams involve offers to work from home or set up and invest in a ‘business opportunity’. Scammers promise a job, high salary or substantial investment return following initial upfront payments. These payments may be for a ‘business plan’, training course, software, uniforms, security clearance, taxes or fees. If you pay the fee, you may not receive anything or not what you expected or were promised.
Some job offers may be a cover for illegal money laundering activities, where you are asked to act as an ‘accounts manager’ or ‘personal assistant’, receive payments into your bank account for a commission, and then pass the money on to a foreign company.
Job scams are often promoted through spam email or advertisements in well-known classifieds and on job seeker websites—even government job seeker websites.
A significant danger with these job scams is that you can be asked for a lot of personal details that you should not provide including your tax file number and copies of your passport or driver’s licence.
This information could be used later for identity theft.
Protect yourself
• Beware of offers or schemes claiming to guarantee income or requiring payment upfront. • Never agree to transfer money for someone else—this is money laundering, and it is illegal. • Do not provide your tax file number, driver’s licence or passport when applying for a job. You may need to provide this information but only after you have started work.
Money laundering is a criminal offence: do not agree to transfer money for a stranger.
Charity and medical scams
Scammers are heartless and can strike during desperate times of need.
How the scam works
Scammers take advantage of people seeking to donate to a good cause or find an answer to a health problem.
Charity scams involve scammers collecting money by pretending to work for a legitimate cause or charity, or a fictitious one they have created. Often scammers will exploit a recent natural disaster or crisis that has been in the news.
These scams divert much-needed donations away from legitimate charities. Charities must be registered with the government—donate confidently by checking their registration first.
Miracle cure scams offer a range of products and services that can appear to be legitimate alternative medicines, usually promising quick and effective remedies for severe medical conditions. The treatments are often promoted using false testimonies from people who have been ‘cured’.
Weight loss scams promise dramatic weight loss with little or no effort. This type of fraud may involve an unusual or restrictive diet, revolutionary exercise, a ‘fat-busting’ device, breakthrough pills, patches or creams. You may be required to make a significant advance payment or enter into a long-term contract to receive ongoing supplies.
Fake online pharmacies offer counterfeit drugs and medicine at low prices and sometimes provide them without a doctor’s prescription. These drugs may have limited or no active ingredients, which can have lethal consequences for users.
Protect yourself
• If you are approached by a charity street collector, ask to see their identification. If you have any doubts about who they are, do not pay. • Check the Australian Charities Not for Profit Association’s list of registered charities. • Consult your healthcare professional if you are considering a ‘miracle’ or ‘instant-fix’ claim about medicines, supplements or other treatments. • Ask yourself: if this really is a miracle cure, wouldn’t your healthcare professional have told you about it?
Business scams
Scammers take advantage of the busy nature of many businesses to swindle them.
How the scam works
Scams targeting businesses come in all sorts of guises and are likely to strike at the busiest times, like the end of the financial year.
A false billing scam is the most common trick scammers use against businesses. Scammers issue fake bills for unwanted or unauthorised listings, advertisements, products or services. The business directory scam is a well-known example, where you receive a bill for a listing in a supposedly well-known directory. Scammers trick you into signing up by disguising the offer as an outstanding invoice or a free listing, but with a hidden subscription agreement in the fine print.
The domain name scam is another ploy used by scammers, where you are deceived into signing up for an unsolicited internet domain registration very similar to your own. You may also receive a fake renewal notice for your actual domain name and pay without realising.
An office supply scam involves you receiving and being charged for products that you did not order. These scams often involve products or services that you regularly order, such as stationery and cleaning supplies. Scammers typically call your business pretending that a service or product has already been ordered.
Payment redirection scams involve a scammer using information they have obtained by hacking your computer systems. They then pose as one of your regular suppliers and tell you that their banking details have changed. They may tell you they have recently changed banks and may use copied letterhead and branding to convince you they are legitimate. They will provide you with a new bank account number and ask that all future payments are processed accordingly.
The scam is often only detected when your regular supplier asks why they have not been paid.
Ransomware can be extremely damaging for any business. The best defence is to back up your data regularly and store your backups offsite and offline.
Protect yourself
• Don’t agree to offers or deals straight away—always ask for an offer in writing and seek independent advice if the agreement involves money, time or a long-term commitment. • Never provide your business’ banking, financial and accounting details to someone that contacts you unexpectedly and that you don’t know and trust. • Effective management procedures can go a long way towards preventing scams—have clearly defined processes for verifying and paying accounts and invoices and look very carefully at requests to change banking details. • Train your staff to recognise scams. • Back up your business data offsite and offline. • Beware of emails requesting changes to payment details. Always verify changes to payment details directly with the business or individual.
How scams work—the anatomy of a scam
Most scams follow the same pattern, and once you understand this, the tricks of the scammer become easier to spot.
If you look carefully at all of the different types of scams outlined in this book, you’ll soon notice that most scams go through three stages: (1) approach; (2) communication; and (3) payment.
Understanding the essential parts of a scam will help you to avoid the current crop of scams and to be on guard against new scams that emerge in the future.
- The approach: delivery method
When scammers approach you, it will always come with a story designed to make you believe a lie. The scammer will pretend to be something they are not, a government official, an expert investor, a lottery official or even a romantic admirer.
Scams - Part 2
To deliver these lies to you, scammers will use a range of communication methods.
Over the phone scams
Scammers call and SMS too.
Phone calls are made by scammers to homes and businesses in a wide variety of scams, from threatening tax scams to offers of prizes or ‘help’ with computer viruses. The availability of cheap Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone calls means call centres can operate offshore with telephone numbers that look like their local numbers. Telephone caller identification can easily be disguised and is one of the many tricks scammers use to make you believe they are someone else.
SMS text messages are used by scammers to send a whole range of scams, including competition or prize scams. If you respond, you may be charged at premium rates or find yourself signed up to a subscription service. It is safer not to respond or click on links in text messages unless you know who they came from. They can also contain attachments or links to malicious software in the guise of photos, songs, games or apps.
At your door scams
Watch out—some scammers will come right to your door to try and scam you.
Door-to-door scams usually involve the scammer promoting goods or services that are not delivered or are of inferior quality. You may even get billed for work that you did not want or agree to. A common door-to-door scam is carried out by dodgy traders who move from place to place and do shoddy home repairs or just take your money and run.
Legitimate businesses can sell door-to-door but must clearly identify themselves and their company and follow other rules. You have specific rights when it comes to door-to-door sales practices, including the chance to change your mind—find out more at www.accc.gov.au/doortodoor.
Scammers can pose as fake charity workers to collect donations.
They will take advantage of recent events like floods and bushfires.
Before donating ask for identification and see their official receipt book.
Bulk mailing is still used to send lottery and sweepstake scams, investment opportunities, Nigerian scams and fake inheritance letters. A glossy brochure is no guarantee that an offer is legitimate.
Regardless of the delivery method they use, their story is always the bait, and if you bite, the scammer will attempt to move you to the next stage.
Communication and grooming scams
If you give them a chance to talk to you, they will start using tricks in their scammers’ toolbox to convince you to part with your money.
Scammer’s tools can involve the following: • Scammers spin elaborate, yet convincing stories to get what they want. • They use your personal details to make you believe you have dealt with them before and make the scam appear legitimate. • Scammers may contact you regularly to build trust and convince you that they are your friend, partner or romantic interest. • They play with your emotions by using the excitement of a win, the promise of everlasting love, sympathy for an unfortunate accident, guilt about not helping or anxiety and fear of arrest or a fine. • Scammers love to create a sense of urgency, so you don’t have time to think things through and react on emotions rather than logic.
Similarly, they use high-pressure sales tactics, saying it is a limited offer, prices will rise, or the market will move, and the opportunity will be lost. • A scam can have all the hallmarks of a real business using glossy brochures with technical industry jargon backed up with office fronts, call centres and professional websites. • With access to the internet and intelligent software, it is easy for scammers to create counterfeit and official-looking documents.
A document that appears to have government approval or is filled with legal jargon can give a scam an air of authority.
The scammer’s tools are designed to get you to lower your defences, build trust in the story and act quickly or irrationally and proceed to the final stage—sending the money.
Sending the money scams
Sometimes the most significant clue you will have that it is a scam is the way the scammer asks you to pay.
Asking for money can come within minutes of the scam or after months of careful grooming. Scammers have their preferences for how you send your payment.
Scammers have been known to direct victims to their nearest money remittance location (post office, wire transfer service or even the bank) to send money. They have been known to stay on the phone, give specific instructions and may also send a taxi to help with this.
Scammers are willing to accept money by any means, and this can include direct bank transfers, preloaded debit cards, gift cards, Google Play, Steam, or iTunes cards or virtual currency such as Bitcoin. Any request for payment by an unusual method is a tell-tale sign that it is part of a scam.
Credit cards usually offer some protection, and you should also look for secure payment options where ‘https’ appears in the web address, and the site has a closed padlock symbol.
Don’t send money to someone you have only met online or over the phone—especially if they are overseas.
Be aware that scammers can also ask for payment in the form of valuable goods and expensive gifts such as jewellery or electronics.
Paying money to scammers isn’t the only thing you should worry about—if you help transfer money for a stranger you may unwittingly be involved in illegal money laundering activities.
Be wary of voicemail and text message scams
What do jails mass produce?
- Smarter criminals, released, caught, sent back, get refresher courses.
- What are the channels of scams delivery?
- 46.9% physical mail
- 23% email / phone
- 14% text
- 3.8% Social media
- Which gender loses the most $ to scams?
- Men lose the most $, but women reported the most times
- Types of Scam
- Call you and no answer - then you call back - then your phone bill super high
- Physical home mailbox scam - Physical letters deposited into victim’s mailbox to lure a victim on some inheritance from long lost relative, won a trip overseas, lottery, some form of incentive to get the victim to transfer money, gift cards, etc. to get the more significant money.
- Fake Tradies deposit glossy brochures into a mailbox.
- If you are talking to someone on the phone that you don't trust, what should you do?
- Do not engage them. Do not chat with them. Don’t waste 30 mins of your life to string them on. The longer you talk to them, the higher the risk you will change your mind or get tempted to reveal personal details and fall into their trap losing money. They might get angry at you for wasting their time and harm you.
- If you answer phone calls with "Yes", what will happen
- You will get high bills. Very very very high
- Scammer trap “Hello, sorry I can’t hear you, can u hear me?” - You answer “Yes” - use recordings to charge you $$$.
- How much $ are scammed from Australia a year and in which categories
- According to ACCC Consumer Protection Body Yearly Report
- $490 million scammed in 2018
- Investment scams = $86 mil - occur over long years
- Dating & romance scams = $60.5 mil
- Remote Access to your computer to install a key logger and other viruses = $4 mil
- These are only scam figures that are reported. The amount of money lost to scam is significantly higher for undetected/unreported scams.
- Target audience > 55-year-old, 48% reported. These people have lots of money and access to their superannuation / CPF money, non-computer savvy, trusty and lonely.
- Scam Quick Tests sold online to test for Coronaviruses.
Home
- House break-ins can happen at residential, industrial and commercial premises. Besides the damages to the premises and the loss of valuables, you and your loved ones may be harmed by the intruder. To stay safe, take preventive measures to enhance the security of your premises.
- > Make sure that all doors, windows and other openings are properly secured with strong grilles and good quality close shackle locks. Change the lock promptly if the key is lost or stolen
- > Do not leave large sums of cash in your premises. Jewellery and valuable items should be kept in a bank or a good quality safe
- > Cancel all deliveries (for example newspapers, magazines) when on holiday or business closures, even if it is for a few days
- > Install adequate CCTV systems or security alarms. Service them regularly and ensure that they are in good working condition
- > Secure all doors and windows before retiring to bed, end of daily business operations or leaving premises unattended for a short while
- > Avoid leaving valuables such as wallets, bags, cash, handphones, and laptops near the window along the common corridor
- > Arrange for trusted persons such as relatives, to clear your mailbox and check on your premises when you are away, even if it is for a few days and
- > For private housing estates, ensure that the access areas of the premises, such as the front porch are adequately lit during the hours of darkness to deter would-be criminals.
- If the premise is undergoing renovation
- > Secure your vacant unit with a close shackled lock and
- > Do not leave home appliances in your vacant unit. Arrange for the delivery of such items after you have moved in.
- How do conmen, fake tradesmen pressure you to buy their services or donate to charity
- They stand over you & want you to go ATM to get $. Don’t engage with them. Don’t string them along. Turn your back and walk inside. Don’t need to be polite to conmen and call the police.
- What seasons do travelling conmen usually come in?
- Spring and Summer
- Don't hire door to door knocking tradies to do house repairs or jobs - might be unqualified or unprofessional travelling conmen.
- Don't buy stuff or donate to a charity that comes knocking on doors. Life is filled with unforeseen financial disasters as proven by the novel coronaviruses, culture, economic crisis, bank frauds, to name a few that was reported. Notwithstanding unreported and unsolved crimes. Keep working hard and smart until you die, then write in your will to donate x% of your assets to the orphanage of sociopaths and psychopaths who are not financially independent. Make sure your own children have enough to survive.
- Conmen pretending to be from authorities or businesses offering deals at cheaper costs
- Authorities do not randomly knock on people's doors offering to sell services.
- Scammers and conmen are out to fix your roof for a very low price - but only if you pay now. There is a good chance nothing is wrong with your roof. If the tradie or scammer or conmen insist on you paying now and offer to drive you to an ATM or bank, alarm bells should ring and get yourself to somewhere safe.
Online
- People who try to hack Facebook account usually download software that is available on various websites. The software will collect the victim’s password (the one who downloaded this software) as soon as it is opened or installed. Some software prompt you to enter Facebook username and password. They will store your password in their database collection of passwords. Few other software gains administrative privilege from you to install background keylogger to get your keystrokes, including the Facebook password.
Business
- Retail stores cashiers can sometimes accidentally or intentionally enter the wrong amount on the EFTPOS machine to charge you when you tap your credit card. Store's cashier EFTPOS machine can be used to skim your debit or credit card details to charge you with fraudulent transactions.
- Most criminals share the same call centre for different business brand scams.
Protect
- Never use a phone number or other contact details they have given you, check with someone you trust as there is a good possibility the contact details are to another conman ready to take the call.
- Never pay with vouchers such as iTunes purchased at the supermarket.
- If you feel threatened and go to the bank with them, tell the bank teller you are feeling threatened and being forced to take the money out. They have been trained in how to assist you.
- When out shopping or other events, stay with the crowd or inside the shop, check your bus app live bus times and plan your walk time, so the time taken when you exit the shop to reaching the bus stop will be just a bit early before the bus arrives, so you spend less time out in the open.
- We are never alone for we are under the watchful eye of God & the country's police CCTVs that are more numerous than the nation's prostitutes and wanton women combined.
- If your child is lost in the mall, display your child's photo on your phone and tell a nearby mall staff to use his or her own phone to take a picture of your child's displayed image and send to the mall's group email or group chatbox and notify security and all mall's management and employees to help find your lost child.
- Beware of women with loose morals stealing money from your bank account and cash from your wallet when you are sleeping after sex.
- Overseas scam phone numbers can pretend and appear to be local phone numbers on your phone.
- Rental Scam > The scam involves a culprit renting a housing unit (or part of the unit) to several victims concurrently. As part of the rental agreement, the victims would be asked to furnish up-front deposit. In some cases, the culprit does not have the authority to rent out the unit. > Report such instances to Police immediately. > Seek the services of a licensed estate agent or property agent. Before you engage their services, you should confirm their identities and the validity of their licences. > Visit the housing unit which you intend to rent to verify its existence, state of condition and signs of multiple subletting. You should obtain feedback on the housing unit from the neighbours, existing/past tenants, etc. You should also confirm the ownership of the housing unit through verifying against original documents. > Request the house owner to show you the original copy of the approval letter from the regulatory authority if you are renting the whole house. > Verify the identities of the person whom you are dealing with and their relationship to the house, especially when you are not engaging the services of a licensed estate agent. You should confirm their identities against the originals, and you should meet the house owner. > Do not make any advance payment until the tenancy is established. Request the house owner to register your particulars with the housing regulatory body immediately. > Do not make payments using vast sums of cash. You should try to pay the rental deposit and rents by bank transfer for documentary proof.
- Impersonation Scam > Do not allow anyone who claims to be a government official or repairman to enter your house without verifying his identity. If in doubt, confirm his identity with his agency or company, or contact your family members or Police for assistance. > Do not keep large sums of money or valuables in the house. Keep the money in a safe or deposit it in the bank. The criminal will impersonate Police officers or Court officials and accuse you of being involved in criminal offences like money laundering, unlicensed moneylending cases, etc. The criminal will ask you for money to let you off. > Call the Police immediately to report the incident.
- Impersonation Phone Scam > The criminal will impersonate Police officers or Court officials and accuse you of being involved in criminal offences like money laundering, unlicensed moneylending case, etc. The criminal will ask you for money to let you off. > Call the Police immediately to report the incident. > Do not transfer any money via remittance agencies, banks or any other means. > Ignore such phone calls. For any welfare scheme or tax-related matters, the authorities will provide notification via official letters. Government officials or personnel would not ask anyone to make any transfer of funds through phone calls. In another variant, the criminal would inform the victim of his entitlement to an income tax discount or eligibility to government welfare benefits. In some instances. The criminal could cite the victim's name and passport number. The criminal would persuade the victim to proceed to the nearest ATM machine on the pretext of guiding the victim in claiming the tax discount or government welfare benefits. The victim would only realise that he has been cheated after observing that the transaction receipt indicates that money has been transferred to another account.
- Lottery Phone Scam > The criminal will inform you that you had won a prize in a foreign lottery/lucky drew, The criminal will request for an advance payment to help you process the claiming of the prize. > Call Police immediately at '999' to report the case. > Do not make any advance payment to claim any prize money. Winning a lucky draw or lottery does not require you to make any advance payment. > Ignore such notifications especially when you did not purchase any ticket or participate in any such draws.
- Kidnap Phone Scam > The criminal will tell you that your family member had been kidnapped and demand that a ransom be paid, In some instances, you can hear cries for help in the background, > Call Police immediately at '999' to report the case. > Remain calm and contact your loved ones immediately to confirm his or her safety. > Do not transfer any money via remittance agencies, banks or any other means to the caller.
- Theft of Bicycle > Bicycle theft can be prevented. It is every bicycle owner's responsibility to ensure that his/her bicycle is adequately secured to prevent it from being a target of theft. Bicycle owners are encouraged to adopt the following measures to safeguard their bicycles and minimise the risk of being a victim of bicycle theft. >Keep your bicycle at home when you are not using it. > If you need to part your bicycle at a public place, choose one with high human traffic and is well lit, preferably with CCTV monitoring. > Secure your bicycle to a permanent structure such as a bicycle rack. > Ensure all removable bicycle components are locked or secured. > Make permanent identification marks such as engravings or affix the Bicycle Security Label on the body of your bicycle.
- Theft of Petrol from Motorcycles > The culprit would commit the theft by disconnecting the tube connecting the fuel tank to the carburettor. Motorcycle owners are to be extra vigilant and adopt the following measures: > Park in well-lit areas > Install an anti-theft system > Call Police immediately at '999' if you notice any suspicious character loitering around the carparks, especially if the person is carrying several plastic bottles or jerry cans. > Remove valuables for example laptops before leaving your vehicle even if it is for a short while > Wind up all windows and close all doors of your vehicle, also if it is left unattended for a short while, > Ensure that your vehicle has been appropriately secured and look around the vicinity for suspicious characters before leaving. If you see any shady characters, take note of their appearance, attire, height or any other distinctive physical features and inform the Police for assistance. Do not confront them.
- If molested, shout for help immediately, seek help from people nearby or activate a shrill alarm to increase the chances of apprehending the culprit early. Call Police immediately at '999'; and > Approach the station manager or contact Police for assistance if you see any suspicious-looking people. For young children > Young children should be accompanied home at all times. Ensure that your young ones do not wander in public places alone without adult supervision, and> Remind your young ones not to talk to strangers. If you are confronted by a molester, stay calm and take note of his/her appearance, attire, height, or any other distinctive physical features. Call the Police as soon as possible so that our officers can reach the location quickly to assist you.
- If a police officer or repairman knock on the door, tell them to wait, while you call the police hotline to verify their identity.
- How to reduce the risk of the elderly being scammed? Teach the elderly how to block scam calls.
Fake FB page. https://www.facebook.com/Bitcoin-Malaysia-Events-102703524766331/
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This fake clone page stole our photos.
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Fake page : https://www.facebook.com/Bitcoin-Malaysia-Events-102703524766331/
Scams - Part 1
Hotlines & Defence Resources:
Australia National Security >>1800 123 400 or if you are overseas: +61 1300 1234 01, Mail: Department of Home Affairs, PO Box 25, Belconnen ACT 2616, Email: [hotline@nationalsecurity.gov.au](mailto:hotline@nationalsecurity.gov.au) >> https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/national-security/security-coordination/national-security-hotline
Australia Police Emergency >> 000
Victoria Police Non-Emergency >> 131 444
Victoria Police Online Reporting >> Theft, Lost Property, Property Damage, Register your Party, Register your Absence from Residence >> https://onlinereporting.police.vic.gov.au/
Australia Ministry of Defence >> https://www.defence.gov.au/Contacts/
Australia Federal Police >> https://www.afp.gov.au/contact-us
Australia Secret Intelligence >> http://www.asis.gov.au/About-Us/Contact-us.html
Australia Cybersecurity Centre >> https://www.cyber.gov.au/
Agency Cybercrime Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) >> www.acorn.gov.au
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) >> www.acma.gov.au or call the ACMA Customer Service Centre on 1300 850 115
Google "Your suburb name" council hotline to contact your Mayor for assistance
Crime Stoppers >> 1800 333 000
Google "Snap Send Solve" app to report local issues.
Neighbourhood Watch >> www.nhw.com.au Join the local Neighbourhood Watch Facebook/newsletters to learn about personal safety, home security and local crime trends.
Consumer Fraud Reporting >> https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/current_top_10_scam_list.php
Stay Smart Online Service—www.staysmartonline.gov.au • CyberSmart website—www.cybersmart.gov.au • Stay Smart Online guides—available at www.staysmartonline.gov.au/get-involved/guides.
Where to find help or support
If you’ve lost money to a scam or given out your personal details to a scammer, you’re unlikely to get your money back. However, there are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.
Contact your bank or credit union If you’ve sent money or personal banking information to a scammer, contact your bank or credit union immediately. They may be able to stop a money transfer or cheque, or close your account if the scammer has your account details. Your credit card provider may be able to perform a ‘chargeback’ (reverse the transaction) if your credit card was billed fraudulently.
Recover your stolen identity. If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, you must act quickly to reduce your risk of financial loss or other damages.
Contact IDCARE—a free, government-funded service that provides support to victims of identity crime. IDCARE can help you to develop a response plan to take the appropriate steps for repairing damage to your reputation, credit history and identity. Visit the IDCARE website at www.idcare.org or call 1300 432 273.
Apply for a Commonwealth Victims’ Certificate—a certificate helps support your claim that you’ve been the victim of identity crime and can be used to help re-establish your credentials with government or financial institutions. Visit the Attorney-General’s Department at www.ag.gov.au (or call 02 6141 6666) to learn more about protecting and recovering your identity.
Contact a counselling or support service If you or someone you know has been scammed and may be suffering from emotional stress or depression, please talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust. You may also consider contacting counselling or support services, such as Lifeline—when you need support in a crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 1114 (24/7) or visit www.lifeline.org.au.
Beyondblue—for information about depression or anxiety, contact beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
Kids helpline—telephone and online counselling and support service for young people aged between five and 25 years. Contact Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or visit www.kidshelpline.com.au.
Financial Counselling Australia—if you are in financial distress call 1800 007 007 to talk to a free financial counsellor or visit www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au.
Where to report a scam
You can help others by reporting fraud to the appropriate authorities. Your information will help these organisations build a better picture of the latest scams and warn other people about what to look out for.
The following organisations take reports about particular types of scams.
The Little Black Book of Scams is available free online at www.accc.gov.au/littleblackbookofscams.
Protect yourself—sign up to Scamwatch www.scamwatch.gov.au —where you can sign up for free email alerts on new scams targeting consumers and small businesses. You can also follow Scamwatch on Twitter at @scamwatch_gov or http://twitter.com/scamwatch_gov.
How Scam savvy are you? >Take the quiz at consumer.vic.gov.au/scams
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) >> www.moneysmart.gov.au or call the ASIC infoline on 1300 300 630
For Tax-related scams,>> Australian Taxation Office (ATO)—to report a tax scam or verify whether a person contacting you from the ATO is legitimate: • call 1800 008 540 or forward your email tax scam to [ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au](mailto:ReportEmailFraud@ato.gov.au).
Consumer Protection Agencies >>
Consumer Affairs Victoria provides information to business, consumers, landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities >> https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/about-us 1300 558 181
Dispute Settlement centre >> www.disputes.vic.gov.au >> DSCV can help you resolve all sorts of disputes, including common neighbourhood disputes involving fences, trees, animals, noise and drainage, difficult or anti-social behaviour, workplace disputes, disputes within committees, clubs or Incorporated Associations, matters referred to mediation by a magistrate
Australian Capital Territory Office of Regulatory Services www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au 13 2281
New South Wales Fair Trading www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au 13 3220
Northern Territory Consumer Affairs www.consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au 1800 019 319
Queensland Office of Fair Trading www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au 13 7468
South Australia Consumer and Business Services www.cbs.sa.gov.au/ 13 1882
Tasmania Consumer, Building and Occupational Services www.cbos.tas.gov.au/ 1300 654 499
Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety www.consumerprotection. wa.gov.au/ 1300 304 054
- What resources can you learn more about the latest local scams?
- Watch current affairs news segment.
- Visit website that watches scams (google it)
- Subscribe to scam watch newsletters to get the latest scam that is going around details.
- Talk to people and your family and friends.
The golden rules to protect yourself
Generally, the hardest way is the way to make the most money. Don't fall for getting lots of money quick schemes. You will find yourself homeless very soon.
Be alert to the fact that scams exist. When dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, whether it’s over the phone, by mail, email, in person or on a social networking site, always consider the possibility that the approach may be a scam. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Know who you’re dealing with. If you’ve only ever met someone online or are unsure of the legitimacy of a business, take some time to do a bit more research. Do a Google image search on photos or search the internet for others who may have had dealings with them.
Keep your personal details secure. Put a lock on your mailbox and shred your bills and other important documents before throwing them out. Keep your passwords and pin numbers in a safe place.
Be very careful about how much personal information you share on social media sites. Scammers can use your information and pictures to create a fake identity or to target you with a scam.
Beware of unusual payment methods. Scammers often ask for payment by wire transfers, preloaded cards and even Google Play, Steam, or iTunes cards and Bitcoin. These are nearly always a sign that it is part of a scam.
Protect yourself
A tiny minority of business advertisements and flyers are a way for criminals to entrap victims.
Go to the police for an official police check document for employment. There are scammers and dodgy companies that do invalid police checks.
If someone calls you to offer you a good telecom deal and want your pin number, you should hang up.
If you are unsure, contact the Police non-emergency hotline or contact the authority hotline after googling yourself.
Home scams:
Recent scams for older adults to be aware of are:
• door knocks from people claiming to be officers from Council offering services such as home care packages; and
• phone calls from people claiming to be from organisations that offer home care packages and services with cheaper costs.
It is important to remember that the Council do not randomly knock on peoples doors offering to sell services. Council officers will only show up at a pre-arranged time to provide home care services, such as cleaning and personal care. Council officers carry ID badges and will produce them on request.
If you are unsure, contact the council's service centre by phone to check that the person is employed by the Council and ask to speak to their supervisor.
All home care packages and services are accessed through My Aged Care. If you do get a call, tell them you will think about the offer and phone the My Aged Care contact centre. The staff at My Aged Care can tell you if the organisation is a registered provider and give you the correct phone number to call and discuss. Chances are the person does not work for the organisation, or the organisation doesn't exist.
As the weather warms up, scammers and conmen are out again with offers to fix your roof for a low price - but only if you pay now. Always ask them to give you a quote and get another quote from a trusted source - there is an excellent chance nothing is wrong with your roof.
If the scammer/conmen insist on you paying now and offer to drive you to an ATM or bank, alarm bells should ring.
Points to remember:
> Never use a phone number or other contact details they have given you, check with someone you trust as there is a good possibility the contact details are to another conman ready to take the call;
> Never pay with vouchers such as iTunes purchased at the supermarket; and
> If you feel threatened and go to the bank with them, tell the bank teller you are feeling threatened and being forced to take the money out. They have been trained in how to assist you.
- A fake tradesman asks you if you want to get some painting done cheaper than you can get anywhere else.
- Then the rain comes, and it washes out into the garden.
- How do fake tradesman deal with your roof?
- They lure you by saying you are too old to climb up the ladder. They go up pretend to fix stuff. Stomp around and crack more tiles
- They usually ask for cash up front, then say need to go to the hardware store to get supplies, disappear.
- They offer you a pressure deal that for today only you get this deal at $x then they run away with the money.
Revealing sensitive information over the phone
Identity thieves love to dupe individuals—particularly ones that are elderly and vulnerable—into revealing their information by pretending to be from their bank or insurance company. They will try to get information by offering fake deals, like credit card cashback offers or free trips—so if you ever get a phone call about a deal that sounds too good to be true, that's because it is.
When in doubt, call your credit card provider or bank directly to verify the offer is actually from them before revealing any information about yourself—or better yet, just don't pick up from unknown numbers at all. Instead, wait until they've left a message and then Google the number to see if it's legit.
Using SMS for two-factor authentication
"Using SMS as two-factor authentication is not recommended," says Rodriguez. Why? Well, according to the tech expert, SMS—the technology used for text messages—is relatively easy to hack. So it's always safer to use a more secure app like Google Authenticator or Authy, than merely having potentially-sensitive information sent via text.
Not picking up your mail regularly
Opening someone else's letter might be a crime, but that's not stopping scammers from doing it anyway. Correspondence from your bank, credit card company or the IRS could have everything from account numbers to your social security number on it, making it easy for scammers to steal your identity.
Responding to suspicious sweepstakes
That pop-up message claiming that you just won a free cruise to the Bahamas is almost certainly a ploy by a scammer to get money and information out of you. According to the FTC, you can usually tell whether a sweepstake is a scam when you have to pay to enter or deposit the check you've won and then wire some of the money back.
Throwing private information in the trash
Scammers often obtain your personal data "through discarded personal documents such as utility bills, insurance renewals, or health care records," the ACCC warns. Before discarding sensitive documents, first run them through a shredder. If you don't have one, make sure to rip and destroy all of your papers until the information on them is no longer legible, or get a text-obscuring rolling stamp to cover it up.
The top scams to avoid
Everyone is vulnerable to scams, so everyone needs information about how to identify and avoid being scammed. Some people think that only the gullible and greedy fall victim to scams. The truth is scammers are intelligent, and if you don’t know what to look out for, anyone can fall victim to a scam.
Have you received an offer that seems too good to be true, perhaps a phone call to help fix your computer or a threat to pay the money you do not owe, an alert from your bank or telecommunications provider about a problem with your account or even an invitation to ‘befriend’ or connect online? Scammers know how to press your buttons to get what they want.
They are getting smarter, moving with the times to take advantage of new technology, new products or services and major events to create believable stories that will convince you to part with your money or personal details.
However, thanks to the tens of thousands of scam reports received every year, the ACCC has prepared a list of common scams to reveal
Threat and penalty scams
If a government authority or trusted company is telling you to pay up, stop, think and double-check.
How the scam works
Instead of offering a prize, money or rebate, these scams use threats designed to frighten you into handing over your money. The scammer may call you and threaten you with arrest or send you an email claiming you owe money for a speeding fine, a tax office debt or an unpaid bill.
During the phone call, scammers will pressure you into paying immediately and tell you the police will be sent to your house if you refuse. Scammers have been known to target vulnerable people in our community, such as newly arrived migrants. They pretend to be Immigration Department officials and threaten victims with deportation unless fees are paid to correct errors in their visas. A very similar scam involves the scammer pretending to be from the Australian Tax Office telling their victims they have an outstanding tax bill.
Scammers also pretend to be trusted companies such as your bank, gas, electricity, water or phone provider. They will threaten to cancel your service or charge you excessive penalty fees if you don’t pay the bill immediately. Sometimes they may impersonate a business like Australia Post stating you have an item to pick up or you will be charged a holding fee every day you don’t pay. Whatever the case, they try to make you worried and act without stopping to think and check that the story is true.
If the scam is sent by email, it is likely to include an attachment or link to a fake website where you will be asked to download proof of the ‘bill’, ‘fine’ or ‘delivery details’. Opening the attachment or downloading the file will result in infecting your computer with malware (see page 16).
Protect yourself
• Don’t be pressured by a threatening caller. Stop, think and check whether their story is true. • A government agency or trusted company will never ask you to pay by unusual methods such as by gift card, wire transfers or Bitcoins. • Verify the identity of the contact by calling the relevant organisation directly—find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search. • Do not use the contact details provided in emails or given to you during phone calls. Again, find them through an independent source.
Unexpected money scams
If you are asked to provide payments before receiving goods or money, think twice.
How the scam works
Scammers tell you out of the blue that you are entitled to money, precious gems, gold or valuable shares, but you need to make upfront payments to get them. You will never receive what was promised, and there will always be an excuse for why you have to pay more. If you pay the fees, you will lose your money.
Rebate or reclaim scams involve a scammer telling you that you are owed money for reasons such as overpaid taxes, bank fees or some sort of compensation. However, before you can get your money, you are asked to pay a small administration fee.
With inheritance scams, scammers pose as lawyers, bankers or foreign officials and tell you that you are entitled to a large inheritance or offer you a share in a scheme because you have the same name as someone who died. They often use official-looking documents and ask you to make payments for fees and taxes before you can receive the inheritance. They can also ask for your personal details to fill out ‘official paperwork’. This means that you might have your identity stolen as well as your money.
Commonly called Nigerian scams may have originated in West Africa but can come from anywhere in the world. They involve scammers telling you they need your help to secure a vast fortune which they are desperately trying to transfer out of their country. They may claim the estate is a hidden stash of money, gold or assets abandoned by a corrupt government or official and if you agree to receive it, they will give you a large share when it is safe to do so. Like all of these scams, they will say you first need to pay taxes, bank charges or fees for anti-terrorism and money laundering checks before they can send the money.
These scams commonly come from overseas and ask for payment via wire transfer but may also ask for bank transfers or other payment methods.
If you fall for these scams, you will never receive anything from the scammer and lose any money you sent.
Protect yourself
• Remember there are no get-rich-quick schemes: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. • Avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, pre-loaded card or electronic currency. It is rare to recover money sent this way. • If an unsolicited email looks suspicious, just delete it. Don’t click on any links. • Government departments, banks or utilities will never contact you asking you to pay money upfront to claim a fee or rebate. • If you are unsure, check the identity of the contact independently.
Do not use the contact details provided in the message sent to you—get correct contact details through an independent source such as a phone book or online search. • Conduct a search online using the exact wording of the offer— many scams can be identified this way.
Prize and lottery scams
Don’t be lured by a surprise win— only the scammer takes home a windfall.
How the scam works
These scams try to trick you into giving money upfront or your personal details to receive a prize from a lottery, sweepstake or competition that you never entered. Scammers claim that you need to pay fees or taxes before your ‘winnings’ or reward can be released. You may also have to call or send a text to a premium rate phone number to claim your prize.
Scratchie scams involve getting mail containing glossy brochures and several scratchie cards, one of which will be a winner. To make it more believable, it will often be a second or third prize. When you call to claim your prize, the scammers will ask for fees or taxes to be paid before you can get your winnings.
Lottery scams may use the names of real overseas lotteries to claim that you’ve won cash, even though you never entered into them.
Scammers typically ask for fees or taxes to release the funds. They will also tell you they need your personal details to prove you are the correct winner but then use this information to steal your identity or money from your bank account.
Fake vouchers and gift cards involve scammers sending you an email or text message or a social media message claiming you have won a gift card for a well-known retailer, but you need to provide some details before you can claim it. This is an attempt to get personal information which can be used for identity theft or to target you with another scam. Offers like these have also been known to deliver ransomware on your device.
Travel prize scams involve scammers claiming you’ve won a free holiday or airfares. In fact, what you’ve actually won is the chance to buy accommodation or flight vouchers. These travel vouchers often have hidden fees and conditions or maybe fake and worthless.
Similarly, scammers may offer you amazing discounted holiday packages that just don’t exist.
Protect yourself
• Remember: you cannot win money in a lottery or competition unless you entered. • Contests and lotteries do not require you to pay a fee to collect winnings—conduct a search online using the exact wording of the offer. It may help confirm that it’s a scam. • Think twice before calling or text messaging a phone number starting with ‘19’—they are charged at premium rates.
Job and employment scams
Significant income—guaranteed? Unlikely!
How the scam works
Job and employment scams involve offers to work from home or set up and invest in a ‘business opportunity’. Scammers promise a job, high salary or substantial investment return following initial upfront payments. These payments may be for a ‘business plan’, training course, software, uniforms, security clearance, taxes or fees. If you pay the fee, you may not receive anything or not what you expected or were promised.
Some job offers may be a cover for illegal money laundering activities, where you are asked to act as an ‘accounts manager’ or ‘personal assistant’, receive payments into your bank account for a commission, and then pass the money on to a foreign company.
Job scams are often promoted through spam email or advertisements in well-known classifieds and on job seeker websites—even government job seeker websites.
A significant danger with these job scams is that you can be asked for a lot of personal details that you should not provide including your tax file number and copies of your passport or driver’s licence.
This information could be used later for identity theft.
Protect yourself
• Beware of offers or schemes claiming to guarantee income or requiring payment upfront. • Never agree to transfer money for someone else—this is money laundering, and it is illegal. • Do not provide your tax file number, driver’s licence or passport when applying for a job. You may need to provide this information but only after you have started work.
Money laundering is a criminal offence: do not agree to transfer money for a stranger.
Charity and medical scams
Scammers are heartless and can strike during desperate times of need.
How the scam works
Scammers take advantage of people seeking to donate to a good cause or find an answer to a health problem.
Charity scams involve scammers collecting money by pretending to work for a legitimate cause or charity, or a fictitious one they have created. Often scammers will exploit a recent natural disaster or crisis that has been in the news.
These scams divert much-needed donations away from legitimate charities. Charities must be registered with the government—donate confidently by checking their registration first.
Miracle cure scams offer a range of products and services that can appear to be legitimate alternative medicines, usually promising quick and effective remedies for severe medical conditions. The treatments are often promoted using false testimonies from people who have been ‘cured’.
Weight loss scams promise dramatic weight loss with little or no effort. This type of fraud may involve an unusual or restrictive diet, revolutionary exercise, a ‘fat-busting’ device, breakthrough pills, patches or creams. You may be required to make a significant advance payment or enter into a long-term contract to receive ongoing supplies.
Fake online pharmacies offer counterfeit drugs and medicine at low prices and sometimes provide them without a doctor’s prescription. These drugs may have limited or no active ingredients, which can have lethal consequences for users.
Protect yourself
• If you are approached by a charity street collector, ask to see their identification. If you have any doubts about who they are, do not pay. • Check the Australian Charities Not for Profit Association’s list of registered charities. • Consult your healthcare professional if you are considering a ‘miracle’ or ‘instant-fix’ claim about medicines, supplements or other treatments. • Ask yourself: if this really is a miracle cure, wouldn’t your healthcare professional have told you about it?
Business scams
Scammers take advantage of the busy nature of many businesses to swindle them.
How the scam works
Scams targeting businesses come in all sorts of guises and are likely to strike at the busiest times, like the end of the financial year.
A false billing scam is the most common trick scammers use against businesses. Scammers issue fake bills for unwanted or unauthorised listings, advertisements, products or services. The business directory scam is a well-known example, where you receive a bill for a listing in a supposedly well-known directory. Scammers trick you into signing up by disguising the offer as an outstanding invoice or a free listing, but with a hidden subscription agreement in the fine print.
The domain name scam is another ploy used by scammers, where you are deceived into signing up for an unsolicited internet domain registration very similar to your own. You may also receive a fake renewal notice for your actual domain name and pay without realising.
An office supply scam involves you receiving and being charged for products that you did not order. These scams often involve products or services that you regularly order, such as stationery and cleaning supplies. Scammers typically call your business pretending that a service or product has already been ordered.
Payment redirection scams involve a scammer using information they have obtained by hacking your computer systems. They then pose as one of your regular suppliers and tell you that their banking details have changed. They may tell you they have recently changed banks and may use copied letterhead and branding to convince you they are legitimate. They will provide you with a new bank account number and ask that all future payments are processed accordingly.
The scam is often only detected when your regular supplier asks why they have not been paid.
Ransomware can be extremely damaging for any business. The best defence is to back up your data regularly and store your backups offsite and offline.
Protect yourself
• Don’t agree to offers or deals straight away—always ask for an offer in writing and seek independent advice if the agreement involves money, time or a long-term commitment. • Never provide your business’ banking, financial and accounting details to someone that contacts you unexpectedly and that you don’t know and trust. • Effective management procedures can go a long way towards preventing scams—have clearly defined processes for verifying and paying accounts and invoices and look very carefully at requests to change banking details. • Train your staff to recognise scams. • Back up your business data offsite and offline. • Beware of emails requesting changes to payment details. Always verify changes to payment details directly with the business or individual.
How scams work—the anatomy of a scam
Most scams follow the same pattern, and once you understand this, the tricks of the scammer become easier to spot.
If you look carefully at all of the different types of scams outlined in this book, you’ll soon notice that most scams go through three stages: (1) approach; (2) communication; and (3) payment.
Understanding the essential parts of a scam will help you to avoid the current crop of scams and to be on guard against new scams that emerge in the future.
- The approach: delivery method
When scammers approach you, it will always come with a story designed to make you believe a lie. The scammer will pretend to be something they are not, a government official, an expert investor, a lottery official or even a romantic admirer.
Scams - Part 2
To deliver these lies to you, scammers will use a range of communication methods.
Over the phone scams
Scammers call and SMS too.
Phone calls are made by scammers to homes and businesses in a wide variety of scams, from threatening tax scams to offers of prizes or ‘help’ with computer viruses. The availability of cheap Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone calls means call centres can operate offshore with telephone numbers that look like their local numbers. Telephone caller identification can easily be disguised and is one of the many tricks scammers use to make you believe they are someone else.
SMS text messages are used by scammers to send a whole range of scams, including competition or prize scams. If you respond, you may be charged at premium rates or find yourself signed up to a subscription service. It is safer not to respond or click on links in text messages unless you know who they came from. They can also contain attachments or links to malicious software in the guise of photos, songs, games or apps.
At your door scams
Watch out—some scammers will come right to your door to try and scam you.
Door-to-door scams usually involve the scammer promoting goods or services that are not delivered or are of inferior quality. You may even get billed for work that you did not want or agree to. A common door-to-door scam is carried out by dodgy traders who move from place to place and do shoddy home repairs or just take your money and run.
Legitimate businesses can sell door-to-door but must clearly identify themselves and their company and follow other rules. You have specific rights when it comes to door-to-door sales practices, including the chance to change your mind—find out more at www.accc.gov.au/doortodoor.
Scammers can pose as fake charity workers to collect donations.
They will take advantage of recent events like floods and bushfires.
Before donating ask for identification and see their official receipt book.
Bulk mailing is still used to send lottery and sweepstake scams, investment opportunities, Nigerian scams and fake inheritance letters. A glossy brochure is no guarantee that an offer is legitimate.
Regardless of the delivery method they use, their story is always the bait, and if you bite, the scammer will attempt to move you to the next stage.
Communication and grooming scams
If you give them a chance to talk to you, they will start using tricks in their scammers’ toolbox to convince you to part with your money.
Scammer’s tools can involve the following: • Scammers spin elaborate, yet convincing stories to get what they want. • They use your personal details to make you believe you have dealt with them before and make the scam appear legitimate. • Scammers may contact you regularly to build trust and convince you that they are your friend, partner or romantic interest. • They play with your emotions by using the excitement of a win, the promise of everlasting love, sympathy for an unfortunate accident, guilt about not helping or anxiety and fear of arrest or a fine. • Scammers love to create a sense of urgency, so you don’t have time to think things through and react on emotions rather than logic.
Similarly, they use high-pressure sales tactics, saying it is a limited offer, prices will rise, or the market will move, and the opportunity will be lost. • A scam can have all the hallmarks of a real business using glossy brochures with technical industry jargon backed up with office fronts, call centres and professional websites. • With access to the internet and intelligent software, it is easy for scammers to create counterfeit and official-looking documents.
A document that appears to have government approval or is filled with legal jargon can give a scam an air of authority.
The scammer’s tools are designed to get you to lower your defences, build trust in the story and act quickly or irrationally and proceed to the final stage—sending the money.
Sending the money scams
Sometimes the most significant clue you will have that it is a scam is the way the scammer asks you to pay.
Asking for money can come within minutes of the scam or after months of careful grooming. Scammers have their preferences for how you send your payment.
Scammers have been known to direct victims to their nearest money remittance location (post office, wire transfer service or even the bank) to send money. They have been known to stay on the phone, give specific instructions and may also send a taxi to help with this.
Scammers are willing to accept money by any means, and this can include direct bank transfers, preloaded debit cards, gift cards, Google Play, Steam, or iTunes cards or virtual currency such as Bitcoin. Any request for payment by an unusual method is a tell-tale sign that it is part of a scam.
Credit cards usually offer some protection, and you should also look for secure payment options where ‘https’ appears in the web address, and the site has a closed padlock symbol.
Don’t send money to someone you have only met online or over the phone—especially if they are overseas.
Be aware that scammers can also ask for payment in the form of valuable goods and expensive gifts such as jewellery or electronics.
Paying money to scammers isn’t the only thing you should worry about—if you help transfer money for a stranger you may unwittingly be involved in illegal money laundering activities.
Be wary of voicemail and text message scams
What do jails mass produce?
- Smarter criminals, released, caught, sent back, get refresher courses.
- What are the channels of scams delivery?
- 46.9% physical mail
- 23% email / phone
- 14% text
- 3.8% Social media
- Which gender loses the most $ to scams?
- Men lose the most $, but women reported the most times
- Types of Scam
- Call you and no answer - then you call back - then your phone bill super high
- Physical home mailbox scam - Physical letters deposited into victim’s mailbox to lure a victim on some inheritance from long lost relative, won a trip overseas, lottery, some form of incentive to get the victim to transfer money, gift cards, etc. to get the more significant money.
- Fake Tradies deposit glossy brochures into a mailbox.
- If you are talking to someone on the phone that you don't trust, what should you do?
- Do not engage them. Do not chat with them. Don’t waste 30 mins of your life to string them on. The longer you talk to them, the higher the risk you will change your mind or get tempted to reveal personal details and fall into their trap losing money. They might get angry at you for wasting their time and harm you.
- If you answer phone calls with "Yes", what will happen
- You will get high bills. Very very very high
- Scammer trap “Hello, sorry I can’t hear you, can u hear me?” - You answer “Yes” - use recordings to charge you $$$.
- How much $ are scammed from Australia a year and in which categories
- According to ACCC Consumer Protection Body Yearly Report
- $490 million scammed in 2018
- Investment scams = $86 mil - occur over long years
- Dating & romance scams = $60.5 mil
- Remote Access to your computer to install a key logger and other viruses = $4 mil
- These are only scam figures that are reported. The amount of money lost to scam is significantly higher for undetected/unreported scams.
- Target audience > 55-year-old, 48% reported. These people have lots of money and access to their superannuation / CPF money, non-computer savvy, trusty and lonely.
- Scam Quick Tests sold online to test for Coronaviruses.
Home
- House break-ins can happen at residential, industrial and commercial premises. Besides the damages to the premises and the loss of valuables, you and your loved ones may be harmed by the intruder. To stay safe, take preventive measures to enhance the security of your premises.
- > Make sure that all doors, windows and other openings are properly secured with strong grilles and good quality close shackle locks. Change the lock promptly if the key is lost or stolen
- > Do not leave large sums of cash in your premises. Jewellery and valuable items should be kept in a bank or a good quality safe
- > Cancel all deliveries (for example newspapers, magazines) when on holiday or business closures, even if it is for a few days
- > Install adequate CCTV systems or security alarms. Service them regularly and ensure that they are in good working condition
- > Secure all doors and windows before retiring to bed, end of daily business operations or leaving premises unattended for a short while
- > Avoid leaving valuables such as wallets, bags, cash, handphones, and laptops near the window along the common corridor
- > Arrange for trusted persons such as relatives, to clear your mailbox and check on your premises when you are away, even if it is for a few days and
- > For private housing estates, ensure that the access areas of the premises, such as the front porch are adequately lit during the hours of darkness to deter would-be criminals.
- If the premise is undergoing renovation
- > Secure your vacant unit with a close shackled lock and
- > Do not leave home appliances in your vacant unit. Arrange for the delivery of such items after you have moved in.
- How do conmen, fake tradesmen pressure you to buy their services or donate to charity
- They stand over you & want you to go ATM to get $. Don’t engage with them. Don’t string them along. Turn your back and walk inside. Don’t need to be polite to conmen and call the police.
- What seasons do travelling conmen usually come in?
- Spring and Summer
- Don't hire door to door knocking tradies to do house repairs or jobs - might be unqualified or unprofessional travelling conmen.
- Don't buy stuff or donate to a charity that comes knocking on doors. Life is filled with unforeseen financial disasters as proven by the novel coronaviruses, culture, economic crisis, bank frauds, to name a few that was reported. Notwithstanding unreported and unsolved crimes. Keep working hard and smart until you die, then write in your will to donate x% of your assets to the orphanage of sociopaths and psychopaths who are not financially independent. Make sure your own children have enough to survive.
- Conmen pretending to be from authorities or businesses offering deals at cheaper costs
- Authorities do not randomly knock on people's doors offering to sell services.
- Scammers and conmen are out to fix your roof for a very low price - but only if you pay now. There is a good chance nothing is wrong with your roof. If the tradie or scammer or conmen insist on you paying now and offer to drive you to an ATM or bank, alarm bells should ring and get yourself to somewhere safe.
Online
- People who try to hack Facebook account usually download software that is available on various websites. The software will collect the victim’s password (the one who downloaded this software) as soon as it is opened or installed. Some software prompt you to enter Facebook username and password. They will store your password in their database collection of passwords. Few other software gains administrative privilege from you to install background keylogger to get your keystrokes, including the Facebook password.
Business
- Retail stores cashiers can sometimes accidentally or intentionally enter the wrong amount on the EFTPOS machine to charge you when you tap your credit card. Store's cashier EFTPOS machine can be used to skim your debit or credit card details to charge you with fraudulent transactions.
- Most criminals share the same call centre for different business brand scams.
Protect
- Never use a phone number or other contact details they have given you, check with someone you trust as there is a good possibility the contact details are to another conman ready to take the call.
- Never pay with vouchers such as iTunes purchased at the supermarket.
- If you feel threatened and go to the bank with them, tell the bank teller you are feeling threatened and being forced to take the money out. They have been trained in how to assist you.
- When out shopping or other events, stay with the crowd or inside the shop, check your bus app live bus times and plan your walk time, so the time taken when you exit the shop to reaching the bus stop will be just a bit early before the bus arrives, so you spend less time out in the open.
- We are never alone for we are under the watchful eye of God & the country's police CCTVs that are more numerous than the nation's prostitutes and wanton women combined.
- If your child is lost in the mall, display your child's photo on your phone and tell a nearby mall staff to use his or her own phone to take a picture of your child's displayed image and send to the mall's group email or group chatbox and notify security and all mall's management and employees to help find your lost child.
- Beware of women with loose morals stealing money from your bank account and cash from your wallet when you are sleeping after sex.
- Overseas scam phone numbers can pretend and appear to be local phone numbers on your phone.
- Rental Scam > The scam involves a culprit renting a housing unit (or part of the unit) to several victims concurrently. As part of the rental agreement, the victims would be asked to furnish up-front deposit. In some cases, the culprit does not have the authority to rent out the unit. > Report such instances to Police immediately. > Seek the services of a licensed estate agent or property agent. Before you engage their services, you should confirm their identities and the validity of their licences. > Visit the housing unit which you intend to rent to verify its existence, state of condition and signs of multiple subletting. You should obtain feedback on the housing unit from the neighbours, existing/past tenants, etc. You should also confirm the ownership of the housing unit through verifying against original documents. > Request the house owner to show you the original copy of the approval letter from the regulatory authority if you are renting the whole house. > Verify the identities of the person whom you are dealing with and their relationship to the house, especially when you are not engaging the services of a licensed estate agent. You should confirm their identities against the originals, and you should meet the house owner. > Do not make any advance payment until the tenancy is established. Request the house owner to register your particulars with the housing regulatory body immediately. > Do not make payments using vast sums of cash. You should try to pay the rental deposit and rents by bank transfer for documentary proof.
- Impersonation Scam > Do not allow anyone who claims to be a government official or repairman to enter your house without verifying his identity. If in doubt, confirm his identity with his agency or company, or contact your family members or Police for assistance. > Do not keep large sums of money or valuables in the house. Keep the money in a safe or deposit it in the bank. The criminal will impersonate Police officers or Court officials and accuse you of being involved in criminal offences like money laundering, unlicensed moneylending cases, etc. The criminal will ask you for money to let you off. > Call the Police immediately to report the incident.
- Impersonation Phone Scam > The criminal will impersonate Police officers or Court officials and accuse you of being involved in criminal offences like money laundering, unlicensed moneylending case, etc. The criminal will ask you for money to let you off. > Call the Police immediately to report the incident. > Do not transfer any money via remittance agencies, banks or any other means. > Ignore such phone calls. For any welfare scheme or tax-related matters, the authorities will provide notification via official letters. Government officials or personnel would not ask anyone to make any transfer of funds through phone calls. In another variant, the criminal would inform the victim of his entitlement to an income tax discount or eligibility to government welfare benefits. In some instances. The criminal could cite the victim's name and passport number. The criminal would persuade the victim to proceed to the nearest ATM machine on the pretext of guiding the victim in claiming the tax discount or government welfare benefits. The victim would only realise that he has been cheated after observing that the transaction receipt indicates that money has been transferred to another account.
- Lottery Phone Scam > The criminal will inform you that you had won a prize in a foreign lottery/lucky drew, The criminal will request for an advance payment to help you process the claiming of the prize. > Call Police immediately at '999' to report the case. > Do not make any advance payment to claim any prize money. Winning a lucky draw or lottery does not require you to make any advance payment. > Ignore such notifications especially when you did not purchase any ticket or participate in any such draws.
- Kidnap Phone Scam > The criminal will tell you that your family member had been kidnapped and demand that a ransom be paid, In some instances, you can hear cries for help in the background, > Call Police immediately at '999' to report the case. > Remain calm and contact your loved ones immediately to confirm his or her safety. > Do not transfer any money via remittance agencies, banks or any other means to the caller.
- Theft of Bicycle > Bicycle theft can be prevented. It is every bicycle owner's responsibility to ensure that his/her bicycle is adequately secured to prevent it from being a target of theft. Bicycle owners are encouraged to adopt the following measures to safeguard their bicycles and minimise the risk of being a victim of bicycle theft. >Keep your bicycle at home when you are not using it. > If you need to part your bicycle at a public place, choose one with high human traffic and is well lit, preferably with CCTV monitoring. > Secure your bicycle to a permanent structure such as a bicycle rack. > Ensure all removable bicycle components are locked or secured. > Make permanent identification marks such as engravings or affix the Bicycle Security Label on the body of your bicycle.
- Theft of Petrol from Motorcycles > The culprit would commit the theft by disconnecting the tube connecting the fuel tank to the carburettor. Motorcycle owners are to be extra vigilant and adopt the following measures: > Park in well-lit areas > Install an anti-theft system > Call Police immediately at '999' if you notice any suspicious character loitering around the carparks, especially if the person is carrying several plastic bottles or jerry cans. > Remove valuables for example laptops before leaving your vehicle even if it is for a short while > Wind up all windows and close all doors of your vehicle, also if it is left unattended for a short while, > Ensure that your vehicle has been appropriately secured and look around the vicinity for suspicious characters before leaving. If you see any shady characters, take note of their appearance, attire, height or any other distinctive physical features and inform the Police for assistance. Do not confront them.
- If molested, shout for help immediately, seek help from people nearby or activate a shrill alarm to increase the chances of apprehending the culprit early. Call Police immediately at '999'; and > Approach the station manager or contact Police for assistance if you see any suspicious-looking people. For young children > Young children should be accompanied home at all times. Ensure that your young ones do not wander in public places alone without adult supervision, and> Remind your young ones not to talk to strangers. If you are confronted by a molester, stay calm and take note of his/her appearance, attire, height, or any other distinctive physical features. Call the Police as soon as possible so that our officers can reach the location quickly to assist you.
- If a police officer or repairman knock on the door, tell them to wait, while you call the police hotline to verify their identity.
- How to reduce the risk of the elderly being scammed? Teach the elderly how to block scam calls.
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