Scams Awareness Week

MEDIA RELEASE 5 November 2021

Scams Awareness Week

Council and the Community Safety Committee have partnered with Scamwatch for Scams Awareness Week, 8- 12 November, to help residents protect themselves against scams.

Acting Police Sergeant Miles Burden said Australians are losing $851 million a year to scams.

“In 2020, there were over 250 reported cases of fraud in the Bathurst Local Government Area,” he said.

“Everyone is susceptible to becoming a victim of a scam, it’s not just older people being targeted and scams also are becoming more and more sophisticated.

“The theme for Scams Awareness Week is Let’s Talk About Scams and we are encouraging everyone to talk to their family and friends about scams.”

How to protect yourself:

• Be Alert. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• Do not open suspicious texts or emails.
• Do not share personal information on social media.
• Keep passwords and pin numbers in a safe place.
• Put a lock on your mailbox and shred documents with personal information before throwing them out.
• Beware of unusual payment methods when shopping online.

What to do if you are affected by a scam:

• Report to www.scamwatch.com.au
• If you have lost money to a scam, contact your bank or financial institution as soon as possible - the Australian Banking Association provides a summary of steps for consumers when making a complaint to their bank. If you are not satisfied by the response from your bank, you can make a complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
• If you have lost personal information and you are concerned your identity may be compromised, you can contact IDCARE for free support on 1800 595 160.
• Consider contacting the platform on which you were scammed to report the scam to www.scamwatch.gov.au
• If you or someone you know is experiencing anxiety, emotional concerns or distress about scams, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 24 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

For more information and resources visit www.scamwatch.gov.au

Ends

Media Contact Media Officer