Can You Spot A Scam? Learn How To Stay Protected This Holiday Season

The NSW Government is urging people to be alert to cybercriminals targeting busy online shoppers ahead of Christmas, with more than $126.5 million lost to scams across the state in 2023.

The number of scams reported in 2023 has already surpassed last year’s figure, with more than 257,000 reports about scams nationwide and 77,000 in NSW alone.

As the holiday season nears and people start shopping for loved ones, consumers should be wary of ‘impersonation scams’, the focus of this year’s Scams Awareness Week.

Urgent requests for personal details or money, an apparently legitimate business asking for different bank details from previous payments, and messages threatening immediate arrest or deportation are all examples of impersonation scams.

People are reminded to be cautious when opening emails and text messages. If you are unsure if the message is legitimate, contact the sending organisation using details listed on the organisation’s website or another public platform.

Other steps include not opening or downloading any attachments or apps, as these can install malicious software on to a computer or phone, as well as keeping an eye out for slight variations in Caller or Sender IDs like dots, special characters, or numbers.

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