Are you the next Australian scam target? 



1. How elaborate have SCAMs become in Australia?

2. Who are the targets of SCAMMERS?

3. How can you protect yourself, your business and your family from SCAMs?

The highly sophisticated Australian financial sector and how we conduct business ensure that simplistic SCAMS are easily detected. An example would be how many scam emails are trapped in everyday SPAM filters provided by our Internet Service Providers. Financial institutions further protect our finances using artificial intelligence and machine learning as they attempt to keep abreast of cybercriminals. Where things become complicated is when SCAMMERS or hackers use multiple channels, third party companies such as utility, local government or phone providers to circumvent multiple electronic SCAM traps and institutional protections. Whilst the ATO releases data relating to SCAMS which claim to be collecting or enforcing taxation penalties, many other industries experience similar incidents.

A case study that illustrates this was a call made to a friend recently from, supposedly their phone and data provider. The recipient was asked if they had noticed that their internet was intermittently slow or dropped out occasionally. The answer was of course, “Well occasionally, I suppose.”

The SCAMMER then requested they confirm their connection number and the model of their router to allow, “Our technical team to test your connection.” They were promised a call or email verifying the results of the test. 72 hours later, the call was received. There was a problem, they were told, but it was not at the end of the extension. To ensure their privacy, they were asked to call the technical support number, toll-free of course, and provide additional security information.

The support number was the second level of the SCAM, complete with the exact automated message options, delays, transfers to the correct department, and extended pauses while details were verified. At the conclusion of this call, the SCAMMER had verified the name, address, phone number, email, and licence number. Now to the Technical Department, who informed the client that they needed to access their router to rectify a problem that had been identified, and potentially put their online browsing information at risk of hackers! Within 10 minutes, the SCAMMER had located and accessed online banking information on the client’s computer. They were told that a refund for $84.12 for the inconvenience would be processed and appear in the account they used to pay the bill. Would they please check to see this had occurred?if

Yes, they confirmed, that the transaction was visible. Would they please confirm the first 6 digits of that account? It was at this point alarm bells began ringing. They terminated the call and called their bank. Looking at all their accounts, they noted that $84.12 was transferred from one of their accounts to another, and $20,000 was withdrawn just prior to this happening. The bank was able to claim the loss on insurance, and the funds were repaid in full. Most are not so lucky.

The ATO is warning Australians that a SCAM involving a phone or SMS request for payment as their Tax File Number has been suspended. ‘To avoid legal action we require payment immediately,” say the SCAMMERS.

The ATO will never,

– Send you an email or text message asking you to send us your information by email or text message.

– Send you an email or text message with a link to log into online services.

– Send a pre-recorded message saying the police are coming to arrest you or demanding urgent payment of money.

Never ask for payment by bank transfers to:

A bank that is not the Reserve Bank of Australia Overseas wire transfers;

iTunes or Google Play cards;

Cardless cash transfers;

Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.