NSW Police are reminding the community to stay vigilant of scam phone calls and emails while spending more time at home.
“Police have received reports of individuals being contacted by a person purporting to be a representative of a utility company,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“The caller advises the victim to download an application to their computer and log in. The device is then remotely accessed, allowing the caller to obtain personal information and financial details.
“When dealing with uninvited contact 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.
The most recent ACCC Scam report for 2020 indicates 47% of all scams are perpetrated using a telephone with email accounting for 22%.
Reputable organisations will not call, SMS or email to verify or update your personal information – including the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If you receive unsolicited contact from organisations, there are a number of simple measures you can follow to keep yourself safe.
• Check the details – including the spelling of the sender’s domain name. Double check this against previous correspondence.
• Use spam and message scanning services offered by your email, SMS or social media providers to filter potential harmful content.
• Do not respond to calls about your computer or if a caller asks for remote access – even if they mention a well-known company such as Telstra.
• Keep your mobile devices and computers secure by choosing your passwords carefully and changing them frequently.
• Never send money or give credit card details, online account details or copies of personal documents to anyone you don’t know or trust.
• Be wary of unusual payment requests – scammers will often ask you to use an unusual payment method, including preloaded debit cards, gift cards, iTunes cards or virtual currency such as Bitcoin.
“Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” NSW Police said.
“If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately; and report the incident to police immediately.”
To find out more information about scams or to find out other ways to protect yourself, visit www.scamwatch.gov.au. If you have been the victim of a scam, you can report it to local police or to the ACCC online at the ‘SCAMwatch report a scam’ page or by calling 1300 795 995.
