A lot of us get caught out, myself included. Gone are the days where it was something of notice to receive something in your mailbox delivered by the postman.
Now, every day we are bombarded with emails from countless people about everything from paying bills, to buying Viagra. In a perfect world none of us would get scammed by these emails.
Although we are becoming more educated and aware of email scams; many of us as still getting scammed. The bad guys know it’s becoming harder to fool us with emails from unknown senders and so are using that against us. Scamming us by using people or businesses we already know!
Phishing Scams
They call them Phishing Scams, because it’s like going fishing. You drop as many lines in as possible and you see what/who bites.
These types of scams are designed to get as much personal information out of you with the end game of scamming you out of money.
Phishing Scams using send you unsolicited emails under the guise of a very prominent Australian business like Telstra or Australian Post.
Probably due to the lack of competition in Australia, a lot of these big companies service a lot of the Australian people. Throwing out enough lines, emailing enough people, they know they are certain to reach a few, if not a lot, of these businesses customers.
The recipient of the email says, “Yes, this must be legit I am a [insert company name here] customer, so I will comply”. In doing so answer questions or emailing back information a criminal could use.
I don’t think I have even been called or emailed by a legitimate company who wanted me to answer information they should already have.
If they do email or call you, hang up. Search for that the phone number in the Yellow/White Pages of the company they are claiming to call from and ask to speak to someone directly.
Buying and Selling Scams
When selling something online, you are putting yourself out there. This is good, you need customers and to make contact with people (its the way to world works” but it does make you susceptible to scammers.
If you are selling something, never send it before you have been paid in full and do not send anyone any money, for something you are selling.
I know what you are thinking, “Why would i send money to someone when I am the one selling”. I don’t know why exactly, it probably has a lot to do with the way scammers talk and manipulate people, but it does happen. And even very smart people here in Townsville have had it happen to them.
If you are buying something online, use Paypal.
If you haven’t used Paypal before, it is free to setup and works like a buffer between you, the services you pay for and your bank account.
Explaining about Paylpal would probably mean leaving the scope of this post, but the good thing to know about Paypal is your money is protected and if you send someone money and they do not do their part, there is a system in Paypal which does a very good job of hunting down and returning your money.
