Stop, Check, Share: Protecting Yourself and Others from Scams

It’s Scam Awareness Week and we're joining forces with the National Anti-Scam Centre to empower you to fight back against scammers.

Scammers are criminals who prey on vulnerabilities, causing significant financial and emotional distress. They may create a sense of urgency, shame, or fear to manipulate you into giving away personal information or money. But don’t worry you're not alone!

Share Your Story, Stop a Scam

This year's theme, ‘Share a Story, Stop a Scam,’ highlights the power of shared experiences. Almost everyone has encountered a scam attempt, and by talking about them, we can raise awareness and help others avoid falling victim.

Here's How You Can Participate:

Share your story! Did you recently avoid a scam? Post a text, photo, or video on social media using the hashtag #ShareAScamStory. Your experience can help others.

Talk to your network. Start a conversation with friends, family, and colleagues. Ask them if they've encountered scams and share tips on how to stay safe.

Remember

Stop, Check, Report. Don't give out personal information or money unless you're absolutely sure. If something seems suspicious, check with a trusted source (like our bank!) before taking any action. Reporting scams to scamwatch.gov.au helps the National Anti-Scam Centre identify and disrupt these criminals.

Know The Signs:

Scammers often impersonate trusted organisations like banks, government agencies, or even family members. Here are some red flags to watch out for:

Urgency: Scammers will try to pressure you into acting quickly, leaving you little time to think things through.
Too-good-to-be-true offer: If something sounds incredibly lucky, it probably is!
Threats: Scammers may try to scare you into paying up, threatening legal action or consequences if you don't comply.