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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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Protect Yourself Against Phone Scams

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elaine
elaine from QLD commented:

I have answering machine and wait for call to finish before I pick up only if I recognise person , It is definitely irritating as have 5 or 6 per day usually from lunchtime until 8 or 9 at night. 

Kathleen
Kathleen from NSW replied to elaine:

Turn the ring tone off after 9.30pm and reinstate it next morning. That way your sleep will not be disturbed. I did this because I was getting scam calls at 10.45pm. 

FiftyUp Club
FiftyUp Club replied to Kathleen:

Great idea. The do not disturb function was a great invention for mobile phones! 

Kathleen
Kathleen from NSW commented:

I was talking about my landline phone as I only use my mobile for emergency when out. Otherwise it is always shut. I am on NBN and use twin Panasonic phones . 

Member- HERBERT
Member- HERBERT from QLD commented:

We get calls every week on our landline from "TELSTRA" and "SOLAR PANEL" sales people. We do not know who is calling and often have to run hurriedly to the phone to answer to find these pest calls. How in the name of goodness can we stop them. We have VOIP and cannot put on "Answer" 

Shelia at Fifty Up Club
Shelia at Fifty Up Club from NSW replied to Member- HERBERT:

Hi Herbert, You can register your number at https://www.donotcall.gov.au to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls and such. Hopefully that will help. 

Jack
Jack from VIC replied to Shelia at Fifty Up Club:

that is ineffective, too. they just ignore it. Jack 

Member- HERBERT
Member- HERBERT from QLD replied to Shelia at Fifty Up Club:

Thank you Sheila. I did that years ago and again months ago - does not work with me. Since posting I received a Solar call on my mobile for the first time. What next? 

michael
michael from TAS commented:

very helpful thanks 

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

You're welcome Michael! 

Lesley
Lesley from NSW commented:

I GET 2 or 3 EVERY DAY....USUALLY I SAY I AM GETTING THE POLICE. 

Jennifer
Jennifer from NSW commented:

Unfortunately these phone calls are becoming more prevelent and more people and the elderly are falling prey to these practices. It is despicable and hope that these scammer can be caught and prosecuted. 

Danny
Danny from NSW commented:

Thanks for all the information. I got caught a few years ago when some smarmy conman called our home phone claiming to be from Microsoft & that out computer had been corrupted. Went through the whole installing if the supposed 'anti virus' software & only got suspicious when he asked me for credit card details to pay for it, at which time I terminated call. Called Geeks to You & whilst that cost me $200, otherwise no other harm done...lesson learnt. Another one is dodgy emails supposedly from Apple telling me my account has been hacked etc I started deleting them /send to junk mail & then block the sender, although its amazing how determined they are, am still getting them via a variety of different servers. 

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

You're welcome Danny. 

Member- HERBERT
Member- HERBERT from QLD replied to Danny:

We still get them occasionally and sometimes I play along (old retired fella). Sitting in my lounge I say the computer is in the other romm and I have to start it up. About 5 minutes later I tell them that I am ready, they give me some instructions and they ask what is on the screen. I tell them that it is blank and start another conversation. After a few minutes I tell them they are scammers and get to hell away.. (All the time sitting in my lounge watching TV). 

Danny
Danny from NSW replied to Member- HERBERT:

Good on you Herbert, sounds like a good way to deal with them mate. Another friend of mine, also retired like us, often minds his 3 year old grandchild, & when they get an obvious scam call they put the little kid on to talk with them for about 5 mins, then hang up...he'd heard that if you keep the line open it prevents them from using that line to annoy someone else for a while. 

Someone
Someone commented:

At the moment there is a scam spoken in Chinese which I am told is aimed at the Chinese population here. They are even leaving voice mail messages when you don’t answer. 

Elke
Elke from NSW commented:

yes, we get that too - so infuriating 

William
William from SA commented:

I rec,d one on my mobile so I just blocked the number 

Robyn
Robyn from QLD commented:

There’s another one offering 42 per cent off the electricity bill.sounds too good to be true so I hung up. Asian speaking also. 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Hi, take it from me being the victim of a hacker a few years ago, not once but twice saying he was from Microsoft Techinal Support to inform me that my computer was at high risk of crashing due to a virus & me being nieve re these thieves I allowed him remote access, then only to learn after I paid some cash that I'd been hacked, I certainly learned a valuable lesson, so now I don't buy, sell, or bank on line, the best advice is be aware of whom you talk to & if unsure just HANG UP OR DELETE. Jan from NSW. 

Danny
Danny from NSW commented:

They got me the same way, see my comment above. I have caller ID on home phone now & virtually never answer it, as the majority are either Overseas calls or others dodgy. Drives me nuts,,. 

valery
valery from NSW commented:

I often receive calls when answered they hang up immediately this worries me, Are they checking if someone is home? also constant calls telling me my computer will be disconnected in 2 hrs if I don"turn same on now, selling solar panels is another one and all the charity calls which I just cannot afford now ,Find it very embarrassing constantly refusing them. Wish the phone companies could block these calls 

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

Hi Valery, You can register your number at https://www.donotcall.gov.au to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls and such. 

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

Hi Shelia - we are registered - have been for years - and still get these calls nearly on a daily basis - "Overseas" "Private Number"... lately we even do get local area code numbers, thinking it could be someone from our area . when I ring back, it sounds as if it gets transferred somewhere else....so they seem to be using local numbers too now to get you..... FURIOUS 

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