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Protect Yourself Against Phone Scams

Protect Yourself Against Phone Scams

Tags: Scam Safety
Last updated by Shelia Taylor on

We have all received a phone call from an unknown number and while a lot of us ignore them, those that answer are often greeted by a would-be scammer on the other end.

Some scammers show up as missed calls from overseas but some scammers are from people claiming to be from Centrelink or the ATO.

Many assume because Centrelink and the ATO are legit, the person on the other end is too.

That is not always the case according to ACCC’s Scamwatch, “40 percent of scams happen over the phone.”

Major warning flags that someone is trying to scam:

  • Receiving unsolicited offers arriving by a phone call, text, SMS (short message service) or MMS (multimedia message service)
  • Calls or messages
    • From lottery, sweepstakes or other prize wins asking you to send money, provide private information and personal details to claim your winnings
    • From someone you do not know asking for money or assistance on behalf of your family. (They often claim someone needs bail or has been in accident).
    • From service technicians claiming to fix your corrupt computer or that your computer has been hacked

Here are the ACCC’s top tips to protect yourself from a phone scam:

  • If you are unsure or do not recognise a phone number or the sender, don’t reply to the message or try to unsubscribe, just delete the message. Most smartphones now can also block unknown numbers from ever hitting your phone too. Block the number if possible. You can also register your phone number on the Do Not Call Register to stop telemarketers and such too.
  • Never send your personal details, credit card or online account details in a message or give them out to an unknown person over the phone.
  • If the caller continues to harrass you, report them to ACCC’s SCAMwatch website www.scamwatch.gov.au or call the ACCC Infocentre 1300 302 502.

If you do receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Centrelink or the ATO, the real government owned businesses will not do the following:

  • Ask you to transfer money to an account with a BSB not held with the Reserve Bank of Australia
  • Ask you for a payment through unusual methods like payment in prepaid cards, gift cards, etc
  • Ask you for a payment to receive a refund or other payment
  • Stay on the phone with you while you go to the bank, post office or shops to make a payment
  • Ask you to update or provide personal information supply your TFN, credit card or bank details via email, text message or social media
  • Send you a downloadable files or tell you to install software
  • Read more from the ATO
  • Read more from Centrelink

The old adage of “if it sounds too good to be true, then it is” holds true when it comes to scams. Listen and pay attention to the warning signs and when in doubt, ignore the call and text and don’t call or text back.

Originally posted on .

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Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Lynn NSW I find the best thing to do is just totally ignore the calls. As l have always said, if it is a genuine caller, they will leave a message. Go get a real job, see what it's like to earn a living. You might feel better about yourself. 

Carole
Carole from NSW commented:

We receive as many as 6 calls per day. Sometimes no one speaks for ages & then you get "Goodbye" . A lot of calls claim to be Telstra saying I have problems with my internet connection and another caller is from Global Marketing. We are registered on the "No Call Register". We are elderly and just want them to stop, Carole 

Beverley
Beverley from WA commented:

These callers are driving me mad. Just this week I have had four different numbers calling multiple times each every single day. As if this is not irritating enough, now one of the numbers calls my mobile, sometimes with only five minutes between three calls. My landline and mobile are with different carriers but they seem to have access to everything. Why can't someone work out how to stop these idiots from commandeering out phones. 

Pauline
Pauline from NSW commented:

Yes I am always getting phone calls from Telstra about twice a week what can one do about it last week I got a recorded call saying my landline was being disconnected I just keep hanging up but they keep ringing 

Gertraud
Gertraud from ACT commented:

Could someone please fix the personal details members are being logged on please. I made a post below, which showed up as "Gassan from NSW" - I am not Gassan and I have no idea who that person might be! 

Shelia at Fifty Up Club
Shelia at Fifty Up Club from NSW replied to Gertraud:

Hi Gertraud! The Tech Team is looking into this and thank you for bringing it to our attention. 

Judith
Judith from NSW commented:

Do not call register doesn't always work calls still come through using a mobile no and if you don't have caller id then you answer even if you re register all your phone no's. The latest scam I've heard is regarding Telstra, they claim they are ringing regarding Telstra Gateway or the other is they claim they are from Telstra regarding an unpaid account. 

Gassan
Gassan from NSW commented:

One of the less usual calls I have been receiving comes from someone claiming to be from the do-not-call register because even though I am registered (I'm not) I still receive scam calls. At that point I hang up. Another is from 'accident investigation' about an accident I or a family member had, I hang up. A couple of days ago I received an email purportedly from the Department of Human Services telling me I had received a secure email from the Department and to copy/paste a link into my web browser. Aware that any messages would be sent by the relevant department under Human Services - eg Centrelink, Medicare, etc rather from the umbrella department, I immediately reported this to Scamwatch (ACCC) as a scam. I also logged on to MyGov to see if there was in fact any message for me and, as expected, there was none. This is a scam to watch out for and to check the MyGov internet site. 

Jennifer
Jennifer from WA commented:

Hi we have had so many of these calls. sometimes 4 a day. we are on the do not call register, these people do not care about that. The number that comes up on the screen seems legit. I have reported them to phone company, and gov. departments, with the number they used. then a few days later it starts again from a new number. so now I just cheerfully say, 'Sorry cant hear you' and put the phone down. They don't give up. 

Brian
Brian from NSW commented:

The Do Not Call register offers only limited protection, it's a fallacy that it stops Telemarketers they use Skype of similar and show up as "Overseas" callers, still scammers. Warning do not gave affirmations like Yes as they can use your recoded voice to perpetrate fraudulent activities. I've used "Dr Google" [pun intended] to translate into a foreign language confuses the heck out of them, if you do speak in English fake a language and infer your in another country [don't name which]. 

Gassan
Gassan from NSW commented:

I've had a few calls from a company called ACN or ACM, they know my name, so they go on to ask me for my date of birth so they can tell me more information. I do not give in to these people and hang up on them. 

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