Needing a Justice of Peace

in the Peregian Beach Area

contact:

Barry 07 5448 2749

Are you being SCAMMED?

It is nothing new but during the current Covid-19 pandemic the number and scale of “scams” appears to have been on the rise. If you have been the recipient of a scam, or a scam attempt, please let us know and we will use the PBCH’s web page and social media pages to warn local residents of the dangers.

BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL IN THE LEAD UP TO CHRISTMAS WHEN YOU USE YOUR CREDIT CARDS FOR PURCHASES.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report scams.

www.scamwatch.gov.au

Some recent scams and ones to watch out for:

·         Scammers often impersonate Government agencies to make the scam appear more convincing. Don’t be pressured by threats – hang up immediately and report the scam.

·         Some scammers threaten legal action if you don’t provide personal details. Services Australia, for example, have a Scams & Identity Theft Helpdesk. Or phone 1800 941 126 if you think you are, or have been, scammed.

·         Beware of emails linking to a bitcoin investment entitled “Dick Smith Reveals How to Profit from Coronavirus”. Dick Smith does NOT endorse or promote bitcoin schemes.

·         Auspost scams claim your package requires a payment to complete delivery. Australia Post never emails or texts asking for payment.

·         The National Broadband Network (NBN) are warning about scam calls. These scams take the form of robocalls threatening to cut off services. Australians lost more than $900,000 from NBN impersonation scams in 2019 with the highest number of reports and losses coming from people aged 65 years and older.

·         Recently, scammers purporting to be from Telstra are phoning to say that your service must transfer to the 5G network otherwise you will be cut off. They try and get you to follow their instructions on your computer which then gives them access to all sorts of personal information including access to your bank accounts.

·         Beware of people who contact you about whether you’ve been in a crash. Car crash scammers pretend to help Queenslanders gain injury compensation from car crashes then sell their personal information to third parties. It is illegal to do so with penalties of up to $40000 for individuals who scam others. Protect yourselves and your loved ones. Hang up on car crash scammers. Visit www.maic.qld.gov.au/hangup

No reputable organisation – your bank, building society, service provider (phone, electricity, water, gas) or government agency will ever seek to gain access to your personal details and financial information via the phone or email.

Scams are now much more sophisticated than the original Nigerian money scam (which involves someone overseas offering you a share in a large sum of money or a payment on the condition you help them transfer money out of the country. While the scam originated in Nigeria, they now come from all over the world) especially since the growth of the internet. Let us know of any scams and we will help alert our local community.

Be particularly vigilant during the holiday season when we do more on line purchases.

Update as at 2 December 2020.