How to avoid telephone scams
Most of us know the usual email scams, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is reporting an increase in telephone and SMS scams, with over 43,000 telephone scams reported in Australia in 2011.
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission is warning of a carbon tax compensation scam, where you receive an unsolicited phone call from someone who claims to be from the government. They ask for your bank account details so that you can receive the compensation, or they might even ask for an upfront payment from you.
Key tips to avoid telephone scams are:
- Be very cautious about unsolicited phone calls.
- Don’t make payments or give your personal details to anyone unless you are sure they are who they say they are. For example, if someone has called you with an offer you think you might be interested in, don’t hand over any of your personal details in that call. You can hang up and call the company back, using their official phone number to make sure it is legitimate
- Consider having your phone number listed on the Do Not Call Register to prevent unsolicited telephone calls. This may not stop scams altogether as people may still get your number from another source, but it’s a good start.
If you think you have been scammed, contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s ScamWatch.
