4 do’s and don’ts to stay scam-safe this year

Experts have warned that scams are on the rise as we spend more of our time online.

In 2021, scammers reaped a record $324 million from unsuspecting Aussies, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) finding that it was one of the worst years on record for scams.

As much as we hope to not come into contact with a scammer, it’s pretty likely to happen. These four do’s and don’ts can help you stay safe and not fall victim to a scam this year.

1. Don’t give in to fear

Beware of emails that use fear to make you act, especially if it involves owing money.

“What scams tend to use is social engineering so they’re trying to trick you into doing something,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told 7News.

In ATO and other financial scams, the culprits aim to send victims into “amygdala hijack”, resulting in the shutdown of the rational parts of our brain.

To keep yourself safe, check the address or phone number of the sender, keeping an eye out for general email addresses or numbers that have nothing to do with the company they claim to be from.

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2. Don’t reply, download or click

According to experts there is one key difference between real and scam messages: major institutions will never ask you to click on a link.

“Telstra and Microsoft aren’t going to contact you to service if you haven’t asked for it,” Inman Grant added.

3. Do download antivirus software

On top of avoiding suspicious links, messages and phone calls, installing antivirus software can help prevent scammers from contacting you or getting your details in the first place.

There are plenty of options available, but if you’re looking for a free service to start with, Avast is one good option.

“It talks to antivirus companies’ research and threat labs to identify what’s bad and what’s good, so having that gives you that baseline protection … not having that is akin to leaving your door wide open,” Stephen Kho, a cybersecurity expert with Avast, explained.

4. Do report everything

According to research from Avast, almost half of Aussies who have been scammed haven’t reported it, either because it wasn’t worth the hassle or they didn’t know who to report it to.

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“The more of us that report the information, the more data they have to work with the enforcement agencies, internet service providers and telcos to be able to block these scammers,” Kho said.

If you have been scammed, it’s also important to report the scam to the relevant authorities, such as the ACCC’s Scamwatch website in Australia or NetSafe in New Zealand.

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