ACT Police have made a statement to their facebook followers warning of online scammers.
ACT Policing have become aware of some recent scams involving government departments such as the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Tax Office and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
We thought we’d share some tips about how to help protect yourselves from being scammed.
If you receive a phone call out of the blue from a person claiming to be from an organisation and stating that you owe money or need to pay a fine for any reason, hang up and call the organisation back with a number you have independently sourced. Threats for not paying often include deportation or arrest.
If you have any doubts about the identity of a caller who claims to represent a government department, contact the department directly to ensure their legitimacy. Don’t rely on numbers, email addresses or websites provided by the caller. Find contact details through an independent source such as a phone book or online search.
If you receive an email, delete it straight away and do not open any attachments as they may contain viruses.
Never send any money via wire transfer to anyone you do not know or trust.
Never give your personal information or bank account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source. If you think you have provided your details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
To report a scam or for more information go to the SCAMwatch website at scamwatch.gov.au or the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network acorn.gov.au.
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