Save
Youth and migrants target in the latest threat-based scams
Australians have lost over $8.8 million to threat-based scams, with young people and those in Chinese communities reporting the highest losses, new research has found.
Youth and migrants target in the latest threat-based scams
Australians have lost over $8.8 million to threat-based scams, with young people and those in Chinese communities reporting the highest losses, new research has found.
The ACCC said scammers are pretending to be government departments and impersonating key officials such as the police or ATO to threaten victims.
People aged 24 and under reported losing more than $4.1 million to threat-based scams, and women reported losses three times higher than men.
“It is extremely concerning that young people are being so severely emotionally and financially impacted by threat-based scams,” ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.
“These losses can be devastating and they can also lead to a loss of trust in authority, meaning victims of threat-based scams may be less likely to seek help or advice from legitimate agencies in the future.”
So far this year, Scamwatch has received over 18,000 reports of these scams, an increase of 40 per cent compared with reports across all of 2019.
Chinese authority scams comprised 74 per cent of all losses to threat-based scams, over $6.5 million. These scams target Mandarin speakers in Australian and impersonate authorities such as the Chinese embassy, police or other government officials.
“Threat-based scams disproportionately impact people with English as a second language, including foreign students, who may not fully understand Australian law,” Ms Rickard said.
“Victims will often provide personal information to scammers, as they believe they are dealing with a government agency, and this can lead to identity theft or falling victim to further scams.”
The ACCC has told Australians to watch for pre-recorded messages a sign of a scam.
“Government departments will never send pre-recorded messages to your phone or threaten you with immediate arrest,” Ms Rickard said.
They told potential victims if they are concerned or have been threatened they should simply hang up and call the organisation directly.
“Never send money or give credit card details or personal information to anyone you don’t know or trust and never by email or over the phone,” Ms Richards concluded.
About the author
About the author
Scams
Cyber criminals using interest rates as bait to trick customers
If you’ve ever found yourself on the receiving end of a suspicious phone call, e-mail or text message claiming to be from a major bank and demanding your details, you’re not alone – and experts ...Read more
Scams
ATO cracks down on $850m GST fake business fraud
A nationwide crackdown on incidents of fraud involving the creation of fake businesses to scam GST refunds from the federal government has led to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) firmly warning Au...Read more
Scams
Crackdown sees more than half a billion scam calls blocked
Initiatives by telcos and the ACMA have also led to a 95 per cent reduction in reports of mobile porting fraud. ...Read more
Scams
Be wary when applying for a TFN or ABN, ATO warns
The tax office said that scams involving TFN and ABN applications are on the rise in the lead up to tax time. ...Read more
Scams
Westpac will now automatically block scam purchases
The bank said it would block suspect transactions from overseas online retailers that are considered high-risk of being a scam. ...Read more
Scams
ACCC issues warning after spike in money recovery scams
Aussies who have previously lost money to scams are at risk of being targeted again. ...Read more
Scams
Over 2m Aussies fall victim to scams and fraud
One in nine people suffered card fraud, scams or another form of personal fraud during the last financial year. ...Read more
Scams
ACCC launches legal action against Meta over crypto scam ads
The Facebook owner is accused of engaging in false, misleading or deceptive conduct. ...Read more
Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now
What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now
Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now
Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now
Scams
Cyber criminals using interest rates as bait to trick customers
If you’ve ever found yourself on the receiving end of a suspicious phone call, e-mail or text message claiming to be from a major bank and demanding your details, you’re not alone – and experts ...Read more
Scams
ATO cracks down on $850m GST fake business fraud
A nationwide crackdown on incidents of fraud involving the creation of fake businesses to scam GST refunds from the federal government has led to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) firmly warning Au...Read more
Scams
Crackdown sees more than half a billion scam calls blocked
Initiatives by telcos and the ACMA have also led to a 95 per cent reduction in reports of mobile porting fraud. ...Read more
Scams
Be wary when applying for a TFN or ABN, ATO warns
The tax office said that scams involving TFN and ABN applications are on the rise in the lead up to tax time. ...Read more
Scams
Westpac will now automatically block scam purchases
The bank said it would block suspect transactions from overseas online retailers that are considered high-risk of being a scam. ...Read more
Scams
ACCC issues warning after spike in money recovery scams
Aussies who have previously lost money to scams are at risk of being targeted again. ...Read more
Scams
Over 2m Aussies fall victim to scams and fraud
One in nine people suffered card fraud, scams or another form of personal fraud during the last financial year. ...Read more
Scams
ACCC launches legal action against Meta over crypto scam ads
The Facebook owner is accused of engaging in false, misleading or deceptive conduct. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
