Starting this ACCC Scamwatch from May 2020 ....



Don't get scammed looking for a lockdown puppy

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians have lost nearly $300,000 to puppy scams this year, and scammers have been particularly targeting those seeking a furry companion during social isolation.

Scamwatch has seen a recent spike in puppy scams and in April reports were almost five times higher than the average, with losses on track to exceed the 2019 total of $360,000.

“A lot of people are stuck at home and going online to buy a pet to help them get through the loneliness of social isolation,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Unfortunately the rush to get a new pet and the unusual circumstances of COVID-19 makes it harder to work out what’s real or a scam.”
Scammers set up fake websites or ads on online classifieds and social media pretending to sell sought-after dog breeds and will take advantage of the fact that you can’t travel to meet the puppy in person.

The scammer will usually ask for up-front payments via money transfer to pay for the pet and transport it to you.

“Once you have paid the initial deposit, the scammer will find new ways to ask for more money, and scammers are now using the COVID-19 pandemic to claim higher transportation costs to get across closed interstate borders or additional fees for ‘coronavirus treatments’,” Ms Rickard said.

“Unfortunately once you make the payments, the seller will cease all contact.”

The most common breeds reported were Cavoodles and French Bulldogs and most people contacted the scammers via an email address they found online.

“The safest option is to only buy or adopt a pet you can meet in person and if you cannot do that during the current lockdown restrictions, consider putting the search on hold,” Ms Rickard said.

“Scam websites can look quite convincing, so try not to fall for the adorable puppy pictures they post, and remember, if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

“Research the seller by running an internet search using the exact wording in the ad and do a reverse image search for pictures of the specific puppy, as you’re likely to be dealing with a scammer if you find matching images or text on multiple websites,” Ms Rickard said.

“If you are in doubt, seek advice from a reputable breeders association, vet or local pet shop.”

So far this year Scamwatch has received over 2,000 reports about COVID-19 scams and reported losses are now more than $700,000.

“If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank or financial institution as soon as possible,” Ms Rickard said.

Today 22nd June 2020


Scams cost Australians over $630 million

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians lost over $634 million to scams in 2019, according to the latest figures in the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report released today.

There were more than 353,000 combined reports to Scamwatch, other government agencies and the big four banks last year.

“Unfortunately it is another year with devastatingly high losses, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to defraud Australians,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“This year we have included data from the big four banks which gives a more complete picture of how much people are losing to scams.”

Business email compromise scams accounted for the highest losses in 2019, with the Australian business community, and some individuals losing $132 million.

This was followed by investment scams at $126 million, and dating and romance scams at $83 million.

Over the last 10 years of Targeting Scams reports, Scamwatch has received almost one million reports of scams.

“When we combine Scamwatch reports with partner data, we see that Australians have reported losing $2.5 billion over that time, which is astonishing,” Ms Rickard said.

“We know these numbers still vastly understate losses as around one third of people don’t report scam losses to anyone and in the past far fewer scam reports to other agencies have been captured.”

“Some of these scams can last for months, or even years, and can leave victims financially and emotionally devastated.”

Based solely on reports provided to the ACCC in 2019, scams originating on social media increased by 20 per cent and contacts via mobile phone apps increased by 29 per cent.

“Over the last decade, scammers have taken advantage of new technologies and current scams are using social media apps and new payment methods that didn’t exist in 2009,” Ms Rickard said.

“In particular, a new trend with dating and romance scams is scammers contacting the victim on social media apps or games which are not designed for dating, so it’s important to be aware that scammers can target you anywhere.”

Common techniques that scammers use to manipulate their victims include making exclusive offers that you don’t want to miss out on, or asking for small commitments, such as completing a survey, to make the victim more likely to comply with larger schemes.

“You can always say no, hang up the phone or delete an email, even if you’ve said yes previously. You don’t owe the scammer anything,” Ms Rickard said.

If you think have been the victim of a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible and contact the platform on which you were scammed.

The ACCC continues to work with the private sector to share intelligence about scam trends impacting their services, to assist their own disruption efforts.

The ACCC encourages people to visit www.scamwatch.gov.au to report scams and learn more about what to do if they are targeted by scammers.

They can also follow @scamwatch_gov on Twitter to keep up to date with advice for avoiding the latest scams affecting the community.

$1.3 million lost last year from just one coastal retiree suburb of NSW. Most money was scammed to overseas.

Sadly, the Australian Media only wants to advertise Australia as a 'Getaway' Holiday destination with fishing and cooking shows.

The Australian Media doesn't really want to show Australia as a nation that has the highest ratio per population of drug and alcohol abuse. High Suicide rate. High rate of people being 'Online Scammed' and more.

It's all Politics's fault - never the Media's doing  ::)

"Over the last 10 years of Targeting Scams reports, Scamwatch has received almost one million reports of scams."


That's almost 274 reports per day, the ones that get reported


“We know these numbers still vastly understate losses as around one third of people don’t report scam losses to anyone"

Walk down a dark alleyway and get mugged for $50

Go online and get mugged for $50,000

Not everything 'technologically new' is good.

I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay".

That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/

Government impersonation scams on the rise

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians are being urged to watch out for government impersonation scams with over $1.26 million lost from more than 7100 reports made to Scamwatch so far this year and in reality, losses are likely to be far greater.

There has been an increase in scams reported during tax time such as text messages claiming to be from myGov or from agencies claiming to help victims gain early access to their superannuation.

“Scammers are increasingly taking advantage of the financial difficulties and uncertainty generated from the COVID-19 pandemic to trick unsuspecting Australians,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“We are seeing two main types of scams impersonating government departments; fake government threats and phishing scams.”

“Both of these scams can be quite convincing and can lead to significant financial losses or even identity theft.”

In a fake government threat scam, victims receive a robocall pretending to be from a government department, such as the ATO or Department of Home Affairs.

The scammer will claim something illegal, such as tax fraud or money laundering, has been committed in the victim’s name and they should dial 1 to speak to an operator.

The scammer then tries to scare people into handing over money and may threaten that they would be arrested if they refuse.

“Don’t be pressured by a threatening caller and take your time to consider who you might be dealing with,” Ms Rickard said.




Background

So far in 2020 (1 January-5 July) Scamwatch has received:

    67 reports of scams involving impersonation of the Department of Health, or state Department of Health and Human Services, with losses over $8700
    443 reports of scams involving Australian Federal Police impersonations with losses over $176,000
    1,070 reports of scams involving Services Australia impersonations with losses over $94,000
    1,638 reports of scams involving myGov impersonations with losses over $105,000
    2,016 reports of scams involving Department of Home Affairs impersonations with losses over $99,000
    2,389 reports of scams involving ATO impersonations with losses over $905,000.

17th Aug 2020

Scamwatch has received a staggering 24,000 reports of stolen personal information this year alone, an increase of 55 per cent compared with the same time last year.
Australians reported losing more than $22 million to scammers who also stole their personal information and people aged 25–34 reported losing personal information more than any other age group.

Scammers are targeting personal information more than ever which has contributed to an increase in financial losses across all scams, up to $91 million so far this year.

This year’s National Scams Awareness Week (17–21 August) has over 100 partners from the government, NGO and business sectors working together to raise awareness about scams that steal personal information under the tagline: 'Be yourself. Don’t let a scammer be you'.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people working and socialising online, we have unfortunately seen a sharp increase in scammers seeking personal information,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Personal information, such as bank and superannuation details or passwords, are extremely valuable and scammers will try to steal them for their own financial gain. Our increased use of technology has created more opportunities for them to do so.”

I remember working at a Private Hospital. Poor Management resulted in many of the good medical staff leaving. I felt the same way and used my holidays owing to accelerate my resignation. The 'new' General Manager though was a 'specialist' and not some ex-Medical Staffer, she had a background in Accountancy. I told her up front I thought she was going to be great here, sorry to go though but had enough too. A few other things and she had a heads up from me - the bedpan guy. It took 2 years - but she busted the Deliveries guy: An Indian that was using a Rugby League team up in QLD as a front and had siphoned out over a million (I think it was $2.3m) dollars worth of Medical Equipment for the Black Market in Australia. Even a Maori working in the hospital would say "I just don't trust that black c%#@"

Scams. Stealing so much from this country, while others were condemned for just stealing bread.

the first 1 million ppl to send me a dollar will get a copy of my book "how to make money on the internet"

Spot

can i just spend a penny instead?

Jasin wrote on Aug 17^th, 2020 at 12:08pm:

I remember working at a Private Hospital. Poor Management resulted in many of the good medical staff leaving. I felt the same way and used my holidays owing to accelerate my resignation. The 'new' General Manager though was a 'specialist' and not some ex-Medical Staffer, she had a background in Accountancy. I told her up front I thought she was going to be great here, sorry to go though but had enough too. A few other things and she had a heads up from me - the bedpan guy. It took 2 years - but she busted the Deliveries guy: An Indian that was using a Rugby League team up in QLD as a front and had siphoned out over a million (I think it was $2.3m) dollars worth of Medical Equipment for the Black Market in Australia. Even a Maori working in the hospital would say "I just don't trust that black c%#@" Scams. Stealing so much from this country, while others were condemned for just stealing bread.

its like the baby formula they seem to have garages full of it.. how come?....I often wonder if those doing the stealing are checked by Immigration .. they always look pretty shady to me..

There were reports of people calling up about selling covid19 home-testing kits for $50. I had a former schoolmate who told me that there are people out there that would fall for these scams out of a sense of confusion. You would have to be really dumb or under hypnosis to fall for these sorts of scams.

Keep an eye on those "purporting" to be from the NBN/Telstra!

Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2020 at 1:33pm:

I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/

From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice -
the goods never arrived.
Both were for less than $30 amounts so
I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of
the price in our shops.
There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions.

By the way - PayPal never refunded my money -
all their guarantees are worthless.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 4:28pm:

Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23rd, 2020 at 1:33pm: I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/ From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice - the goods never arrived. Both were for less than $30 amounts so I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of the price in our shops. There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions. By the way - PayPal never refunded my money - all their guarantees are worthless.

You've got to be eligible, or your purchase must be eligible. I've had no problems getting refunds

Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 5:15pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 26th, 2020 at 4:28pm: Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23rd, 2020 at 1:33pm: I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/ From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice - the goods never arrived. Both were for less than $30 amounts so I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of the price in our shops. There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions. By the way - PayPal never refunded my money - all their guarantees are worthless. You've got to be eligible, or your purchase must be eligible. I've had no problems getting refunds

In my case the delivery was going to take more than 1 month and the Paypal
time to put in a complaint had run out by then.
Paypal is a scam.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 5:19pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 26th, 2020 at 5:15pm: Bobby. wrote on Aug 26th, 2020 at 4:28pm: Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23rd, 2020 at 1:33pm: I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/ From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice - the goods never arrived. Both were for less than $30 amounts so I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of the price in our shops. There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions. By the way - PayPal never refunded my money - all their guarantees are worthless. You've got to be eligible, or your purchase must be eligible. I've had no problems getting refunds In my case the delivery was going to take more than 1 month and the Paypal time to put in a complaint had run out by then. Paypal is a scam.

Good point on Paypal!

Ebay delivery times are friggin hopeless now days!

Even the quoted times are way into the future

Is it just due to the Post Office not delivering every weekday  and Covid ?

Redmond Neck wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 5:30pm:

Is it just due to the Post Office not delivering every weekday  and Covid ?

I don't know about the ACT and the rest of Australia but here in WA (Perth specifically) we still get mail delivered every day Monday to Friday.

I did hear a few months back that Australia Post were planning to change to delivering just 2 days a week supposedly due to COVID-19 but we're still getting mail every day (if there is any for us, of course).

Australia Post were going to do the same thing here about 3 years ago - delivering mail only 2 days a week unless we wanted to pay extra for 5 days a week deliveries but that didn't happen either - we were still receiving mail every day (without any extra charge).

I asked our postie a few weeks back what happened to these 2 day a week delivery ideas and he said - nope, still delivering every day mainly because of businesses needing their mail delivered every day.

He then said that these are just "bright ideas" that head office come up with from time to time to make it look like they're doing something.  ;D

Redmond Neck wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 5:30pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 26th, 2020 at 5:19pm: Bias_2012 wrote on Aug 26th, 2020 at 5:15pm: Bobby. wrote on Aug 26th, 2020 at 4:28pm: Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23rd, 2020 at 1:33pm: I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/ From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice - the goods never arrived. Both were for less than $30 amounts so I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of the price in our shops. There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions. By the way - PayPal never refunded my money - all their guarantees are worthless. You've got to be eligible, or your purchase must be eligible. I've had no problems getting refunds In my case the delivery was going to take more than 1 month and the Paypal time to put in a complaint had run out by then. Paypal is a scam. Good point on Paypal! Ebay delivery times are friggin hopeless now days! Even the quoted times are way into the future Is it just due to the Post Office not delivering every weekday  and Covid ?

This was before the Lockdown.
The scam artist was a Russian seller.
I had one previous delivery that took 1 month from her
so I made another order but it never arrived.

At the same time huge numbers of negative feedbacks came through -
basically she ripped off dozens of people all of a sudden.
Next thing she opened another Ebay account under another name
and repeated the scam.
I told Ebay but they didn't close her down.
Ebay doesn't really care.

Solution - go for large sellers with 100s or 1000s
of orders and top feedback & you'll be OK.

Redmond Neck wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 5:30pm:

Is it just due to the Post Office not delivering every weekday  and Covid ?

Carl D wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 5:45pm:

I don't know about the ACT and the rest of Australia but here in WA (Perth specifically) we still get mail delivered every day Monday to Friday.

Australia Post is federal, so it should be the same everywhere.

Parcels are delivered daily.
When Covid hit, parcel delivery went nuts. Australia Post was experiencing higher volume than even in it's pre Christmas period, which is traditionally it's busiest period. Whilst it has eased off slightly now, it's still busier than at the same time last year.

If it has to cross a border, it'll take longer than usual ... especially if it's coming from O'seas.

On top of that, retailers are experiencing delays in receiving their stock as well, so the problem is further compounded

Bobby. wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 4:28pm:

Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23rd, 2020 at 1:33pm: I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/ From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice - the goods never arrived. Both were for less than $30 amounts so I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of the price in our shops. There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions. By the way - PayPal never refunded my money - all their guarantees are worthless.

OYG*


My remark about buying a book from eBay on how to avoid being scammed on eBay was a joke.  ::)




* Oh Your God!

Scamwatch 21st Sep 2020


Rental scams targeting more Australians during pandemic

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians have lost over $300,000 to rental and accommodation scams this year, an increase of 76 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Scamwatch has received 560 reports of rental scams so far this year, an increase of 56 per cent, with many using tactics related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These scams target people seeking new rental accommodation by offering fake rental properties to convince people into handing over money or personal information.

“Scammers are offering reduced rents due to COVID-19 and using the government restrictions to trick people into transferring money without inspecting the property,” ACCC Deputy Commissioner Delia Rickard said.

The scammer will post advertisements on real estate or classified websites or target people who have posted on social media that they are looking for a room.

After the victim responds, the scammer will request an upfront deposit to secure the property or phish for personal information through a ‘tenant application form’, promising to provide the keys after the payment or information is provided.

The scammer may come up with excuses for further payments and the victim often only realises they have been scammed when the keys don’t arrive and the scammer cuts off contact.

Some scammers will even impersonate real estate agents and organise fake inspections, victims will then arrive to discover the property doesn’t exist or is currently occupied.

New Scam today

"You have been charged $345 on your card by Ebay for an Iphone" or something like that

Please press one if you did not order this!

Pressed one and called him a slaggy wog c..nt and pissed him off!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I tend to ignore the landline and let it go through to the answering machine. If it is a genuine call they will leave a message and I will call them back.

Another scam going around .... got an email supposedly from my ISP telling me that they "couldn't process my payment" ... naturally with a "link" to go to.  I didn't come down in this morning's shower.  ;D

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 18^th, 2020 at 4:11pm:

There were reports of people calling up about selling covid19 home-testing kits for $50. I had a former schoolmate who told me that there are people out there that would fall for these scams out of a sense of confusion. You would have to be really dumb or under hypnosis to fall for these sorts of scams.

$50???

That's highway robbery!

I only paid $45 for mine. Be here any day now...

Redmond Neck wrote on Sep 25^th, 2020 at 2:28pm:

New Scam today "You have been charged $345 on your card by Ebay for an Iphone" or something like that Please press one if you did not order this! Pressed one and called him a slaggy wog c..nt and pissed him off! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

you might want to keep an eye on your next bill

I actually answered the phone today and got that Amazon scam, telling me that they were going to charge $39.99 to my credit card, or something.  Just because I was in the mood, I waited online for "Carly" or someone to talk to me. She went on so I told her that I have never bought anything from Amazon and to f*ck off, stop ringing me,  or I would "call the cops".  ;D ;D ;D

Neferti wrote on Sep 25^th, 2020 at 3:35pm:

I tend to ignore the landline and let it go through to the answering machine.

Wow   :o

What's it like there, back in 1996?

Neferti wrote on Sep 25^th, 2020 at 3:35pm:

I tend to ignore the landline and let it go through to the answering machine. If it is a genuine call they will leave a message and I will call them back. Another scam going around .... got an email supposedly from my ISP telling me that they "couldn't process my payment" ... naturally with a "link" to go to.  I didn't come down in this morning's shower.  ;D

' ........... If it is a genuine call they will leave a message .......... '

yes

greggerypeccary wrote on Oct 13^th, 2020 at 9:54pm:

Neferti wrote on Sep 25th, 2020 at 3:35pm: I tend to ignore the landline and let it go through to the answering machine. Wow   :o What's it like there, back in 1996?

I had the internet, at home, in 1995 and my first mobile phone (a Nokia) in 1998. I have retained the landline because I want to. I have a Samsung "smartphone" but do not give out my number to all and sundry because that is a good way to get on the List that scammers use.  :P

Sprintcyclist wrote on Oct 13^th, 2020 at 10:09pm:

Neferti wrote on Sep 25th, 2020 at 3:35pm: I tend to ignore the landline and let it go through to the answering machine. If it is a genuine call they will leave a message and I will call them back. Another scam going around .... got an email supposedly from my ISP telling me that they "couldn't process my payment" ... naturally with a "link" to go to.  I didn't come down in this morning's shower.  ;D ' ........... If it is a genuine call they will leave a message .......... ' yes

I hate answering machines ... I rarely leave a message when I get one.

I miss calls at times on my cell phone. Look through the list of recent calls—quite a few leave no number and no message.

Just the other week, someone non-Australian called up for the sake of asking how my job network member experiences were. I had to be careful about what I said, in case it was another scam.

As both an employer and someone being made ‘job ready’ I can definitely state that the Job Network sucks, hard!

From ACCC Scamwatch - 24/11/20


Watch out for online shopping scams this holiday season

Dear radar subscriber,

Losses to online shopping scams have increased 42 per cent this year, and Scamwatch is warning Australians to be careful when buying gifts this holiday season.

Scamwatch has received over 12,000 reports of online shopping scams so far this year, with almost $7 million in reported losses.

“More people have been shopping online this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and scammers are now targeting people doing their Christmas shopping, including in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Scammers create fake websites that look like genuine online stores, offering products at very low prices and victims will either receive a fake item or nothing at all.”

“They also post fake ads on classified websites, often claiming they are travelling and someone else will deliver the goods, but the item never arrives and the victim can no longer contact the seller.”

Losses on classified websites, such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, have increased by 60 per cent this year, to $4.5 million.

How good are you at recognizing scam emails? I received this unsolicited email yesterday. I have nothing to do with Bitcoin, nor own any


Scam, or not?


Josie (with Bitcioninvestment email address)


Due to the sensitive information in this material…

I’ve decided to make this page accessible through special invitation links only

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS PRIVATE PAGE NOW.

So don’t close this window and don’t try putting it off to watch later…

because there’s a good chance you won’t be able to access this page again

CLICK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT.

This sensitive information has been banned in some countries due to its very high income potential.

See why for yourself.

Best Regards,
Josie

In order to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please click here

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 25^th, 2020 at 9:03pm:

How good are you at recognizing scam emails? I received this unsolicited email yesterday. I have nothing to do with Bitcoin, nor own any Scam, or not? Josie (with Bitcioninvestment email address) Due to the sensitive information in this material… I’ve decided to make this page accessible through special invitation links only CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS PRIVATE PAGE NOW. So don’t close this window and don’t try putting it off to watch later… because there’s a good chance you won’t be able to access this page again CLICK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT. This sensitive information has been banned in some countries due to its very high income potential. See why for yourself. Best Regards, Josie In order to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please click here

It's a con.

Likely, if you attempt to "unsubscribe", you'll need to manually enter your email address...then they'll have another "live" one to send more spam to.

Most of the "Aussies are making millions from BiTcOiN" emails are scams, BTW.

Mix_Master wrote on Nov 27^th, 2020 at 8:14am:

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 25th, 2020 at 9:03pm: How good are you at recognizing scam emails? I received this unsolicited email yesterday. I have nothing to do with Bitcoin, nor own any Scam, or not? Josie (with Bitcioninvestment email address) Due to the sensitive information in this material… I’ve decided to make this page accessible through special invitation links only CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS PRIVATE PAGE NOW. So don’t close this window and don’t try putting it off to watch later… because there’s a good chance you won’t be able to access this page again CLICK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT. This sensitive information has been banned in some countries due to its very high income potential. See why for yourself. Best Regards, Josie In order to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please click here It's a con. Likely, if you attempt to "unsubscribe", you'll need to manually enter your email address...then they'll have another "live" one to send more spam to. Most of the "Aussies are making millions from BiTcOiN" emails are scams, BTW.

I have had experience like that with something to do with Uber specials..... the more I try to unsubscribe the more I get.........so what do you have to do to get rid of them?

Mix_Master wrote on Nov 27^th, 2020 at 8:14am:

It's a con.

Yep, it sure is

I didn't open anything up and simply deleted it

cods wrote on Nov 27^th, 2020 at 8:39am:

Mix_Master wrote on Nov 27th, 2020 at 8:14am: Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 25th, 2020 at 9:03pm: How good are you at recognizing scam emails? I received this unsolicited email yesterday. I have nothing to do with Bitcoin, nor own any Scam, or not? Josie (with Bitcioninvestment email address) Due to the sensitive information in this material… I’ve decided to make this page accessible through special invitation links only CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THIS PRIVATE PAGE NOW. So don’t close this window and don’t try putting it off to watch later… because there’s a good chance you won’t be able to access this page again CLICK NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT. This sensitive information has been banned in some countries due to its very high income potential. See why for yourself. Best Regards, Josie In order to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please click here It's a con. Likely, if you attempt to "unsubscribe", you'll need to manually enter your email address...then they'll have another "live" one to send more spam to. Most of the "Aussies are making millions from BiTcOiN" emails are scams, BTW. I have had experience like that with something to do with Uber specials..... the more I try to unsubscribe the more I get.........so what do you have to do to get rid of them?

That would depend...

Is it coming from a legit email address? (Unlikely). If it is, you can block it. If as is likely it isn't, there's isn't much you can do, as they'll use a different (fictional) email address each time they send.

Worse, many of these asshats compile lists of "live" email addresses, and on-sell them.

Cue more spam from an un-related asshat... >:(

Copped this one the other day ...

https://www.bendigobank.com.au/siteassets/help/security/online-security/smishing-24-nov-2020.jpg

Funny - I don't have an account with Bendigo bank.  ;D

From ACCC Scamwatch - 12/2/2021


Romance baiting scams on the rise

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians reported a record-breaking $37 million lost to Scamwatch last year for dating and romance scams. Total losses are expected to be much higher and scammers are now using dating apps to lure victims into investment scams.

This new technique, called romance baiting, involves scammers meeting people on dating apps and then moving the conversation to an encrypted chat site. After a few weeks of developing a relationship, the scammer will begin asking about the victim’s finances and encourage them to participate in an investment opportunity.

“These scams prey on people seeking connection and can leave victims with significant financial losses and emotional distress,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“While traditional dating and romance scams tend to target older Australians, almost half of all losses to romance baiting scams come from people under the age of 35.”

Scammers often encourage victims to initially transfer a small amount of money to prove how easy the investment is. Victims will be told to top up their accounts to increase their profits but when they run out of money to transfer, the scammer will cease all communication.

Last year Scamwatch received over 400 reports of romance baiting scams with over $15.2 million in losses and the majority involved cryptocurrency investment scams.

“Don’t take financial advice from someone you met on an app and never give financial or personal details to someone you’ve only met online,” Ms Rickard said.

Continued ...


“Don’t take financial advice from someone you met on an app and never give financial or personal details to someone you’ve only met online,” Ms Rickard said.

Scammers may use a technique called ‘love bombing’, where they contact the victim several times a day professing their feelings for them. The victim starts to develop feelings in return, making them more likely to participate in the investment scam.

“If you match with someone on a dating app, get to know them in the app as you have more protections than if you move to a different chat site.”

For example, if someone reports a potential scammer on a dating app, the profile can be removed. Other people currently communicating with the scammer on the platform are then protected by the removal of the scammer's profile.

“Remember that you are in control and if you start to feel pressured by someone, stop communicating with them,” Ms Rickard said.

“You can also do an internet search with the name or photo of your love interest or some of the phrases they have used to help identify if it is a scam.”

If you have been the victim of a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible and contact the platform on which you were scammed to inform them of the circumstances.
Background

In 2020, there were 7,314 reports of investment scams with losses over $66 million.
  @scamwatch_gov

From ACCC Scamwatch - 30/3/2021


Payment redirection scams cost Australian businesses $14 million

Dear radar subscriber,

Australian businesses reported over $14 million in losses to Scamwatch due to payment redirection scams last year, and average losses so far in 2021 are more than five times higher compared to average losses in the same period last year.

Total losses are much higher as these scams are reported to a range of different organisations.

In a payment redirection scam, also known as business email compromise scams, scammers impersonate a business or its employees via email and request that money, which usually is owed to the legitimate business, is sent to a fraudulent account.

“Payment redirection scams impact businesses across many industries, including real estate, construction, law, recruitment, and universities,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Scammers tend to target new or junior employees, or even volunteers, as they are less likely to be familiar with their employer’s finance processes or the types of requests to expect from their supervisors.”

“We recommend organisations ensure their staff are well trained in the company’s payment processes and remain aware of payment redirection scams,” Ms Rickard said.

Payment redirection scams can take several different forms. In some instances, scammers hack into a legitimate email account and pose as the business, by intercepting legitimate invoices and amending the bank details before releasing emails to the intended recipients.

In one instance, a victim lost $16,500 in a single transaction after a scammer used a staff member’s email address to send an invoice to a customer with ‘updated bank details’, redirecting the payment to the scammer’s personal bank account.

From ACCC Scamwatch - 27/4/2021


Losses to car ad scams climbing

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians have already lost over $288,000 to vehicle scams in the first quarter of this year, more than all losses reported to Scamwatch in 2019, and scammers have now begun impersonating defence personnel to con their victims.

In a vehicle scam, scammers post fake online listings offering to sell in-demand cars at well below market value to lure potential buyers looking for a second hand vehicle. Scammers seek payment to secure the car for the buyer but never deliver the vehicle.

Vehicle scams are commonly hosted on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Autotrader, Car Sales, Cars Guide and Gumtree.

“As second hand car sales increased during the pandemic, unfortunately so did vehicle scams. If current trends continue, Australians could lose much more to vehicle scams this year than the $1 million lost in 2020,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“We want to raise awareness of these scams to reduce the number of people who may be vulnerable to them.”

Minor post on the subject:

I had a call over an hour ago from someone claiming to be from some charitable organisation in regards to people living below the poverty line. There was a delay in her responses. So, I would be assuming that this was just a voice recording and that the organisation was trying to scam people into committing to what was not a legitimate organisation. After the 3rd delaying pause to my comments, I just hung up straight away. Did not receive a phone call within 5 minutes of hanging up. So, I reported the number to scamwatch.

Got out of bed this morning to a phone call from someone claiming to be from Telstra. Indian accent. Scam detector goes off in my head. I went about starting up my computer and entertained what he wanted for a while. He told me to check out the event viewer to find that I have error messages on my computer. After he asked that I load the run command and type in something seemingly obviously not right. Having figured that I had not relieved myself for the morning, I put the phone down and went to the toilet. I came back a minute later and the guy was still talking, wondering where I went. I hung up on him. A minute later, I got another phone call. Then another phone call, when I did not answer. 3 different phone numbers. I suppose the phone numbers were changed because they did not want to be tracked through a number that goes back to India.

I recorded the times, the phone numbers and whatever was said over the phone and posted it to a Telstra reporting site. Telstra wrote back to say that it was a scam:

Thank you for letting us know about this.

What you encountered was, in fact, a scam.  In no way was this a call from Telstra.

These sorts of frauds have been around for quite a while, often impersonating organisations such as Microsoft, Telstra, the AFP, eBay, Amazon, the ATO, and others. The goal of the fraudsters is to try to gain access to your computer, to your passwords, and sometimes to your bank accounts or other financial information.

Telstra should never unexpectedly contact you and ask for this sort of information and access.

We've also published an article which contains more information about these scams, as well as a few tips as to how you can better identify if a call is truly Telstra, or a potential fraudster.

https://exchange.telstra.com.au/how-to-spot-a-scammer/

You can find out more about this type of scam, as well as other scams, at:

https://www.telstra.com.au/help/contact-us/scams

Finally, additional information available at:

https://www.telstra.com.au/help/contact-us/complaints/verify

If you are ever in doubt about the authenticity of a call, we advise you to simply hang up and contact us through other channels, such as the phone number printed on your Telstra bill, or via MyAccount or even through web forms such as the one you used to reach out to us on for this issue.

If for any reason you’ve provided any information, or access, to these fraudsters, please do let us know so that we may offer you some additional advice.

Additional general information over this sort of scam can be found at the ACCC's ScamWatch website:

https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/buying-or-selling/remote-access-scams

There are a variety of technologies available to help you block the sorts of calls you received. Telstra has a product known as the Call Guardian which provides this sort of functionality as well. These devices work by allowing you to control which phone numbers are able to ring you, reach your voicemail, and so on. If this sort of product is of interest to you, you can find out more about it on our website https://checkout.telstra.com.au/consumer/accessories/home-internet/20206

The Call Guardian is a fantastic way for you to control exactly who does and does not have the ability to ring through to your home telephone, so we would encourage you to take a look as we have heard fantastic things from customers who appreciated the flexibility and options it provides them.

For example, the Call Guardian can be configured so that only trusted phone numbers are able to actually make your phone ring.  Or, it can be configured so that specific annoying numbers are silently blocked.

Another really useful feature is that it can require callers to "announce" themselves before the call makes your line ring.  This means that a huge number of automated calls, including many scam calls, are silently blocked as well.

If you have NBN from Telstra, you can also use MyAccount to create a "call forwarding rule" which can greatly help cut down on intrusive calls.  For example, you can forward hidden/blocked callers directly to the MessageBank to avoid having them ring through to your telephone.  More information about this feature is available at:  https://www.telstra.com.au/support/category/home-phone/features-settings/how-to-set-up-call-forwarding-on-home-phone

Telstra's dedicated Unwelcome Calls Team also has information available via: https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/unwelcome-calls

In some cases, the Unwelcome Calls Team may be able to assist with blocking of certain numbers which may be particularly bothersome.  If this is of interest to you, you can contact the team directly via the above website.

Telstra is working extremely hard on doing what we can to minimise the impact of these scams, and you can read more about some of our efforts at:

https://exchange.telstra.com.au/were-now-blocking-around-1-5-million-scam-calls-a-week/

This new capability will have a significant impact in identifying and blocking these calls before they reach you, however, no technology can prevent 100% of these unwanted calls, even though that is our shared hope.  Telstra is also putting significant pressure on those telephone carriers who are responsible for these calls and there is a positive indication that those carriers are starting to take this problem as seriously as Telstra is.

You can see some other recent scams which Telstra has been monitoring by visiting:

https://tel.st/rec

UnSubRocky wrote on May 20^th, 2021 at 4:34pm:

Got out of bed this morning to a phone call from someone claiming to be from Telstra. Indian accent. Scam detector goes off in my head. I went about starting up my computer and entertained what he wanted for a while. He told me to check out the event viewer to find that I have error messages on my computer. After he asked that I load the run command and type in something seemingly obviously not right. Having figured that I had not relieved myself for the morning, I put the phone down and went to the toilet. I came back a minute later and the guy was still talking, wondering where I went. I hung up on him. A minute later, I got another phone call. Then another phone call, when I did not answer. 3 different phone numbers. I suppose the phone numbers were changed because they did not want to be tracked through a number that goes back to India.

Your ISP, Bank, Telstra or any other "business" with NEVER ring you out of the blue!  Stay ALERT for scammers.  They are pests!

PS.  They are now calling saying they are from EBay and have charged your bank account or some such - last month it was from Amazon.  ::)

Just lately when I send an email somewhere, I get an alert from ebay giving me the location of a hacking attempt, trying to access my ebay account. Ebay strongly advises me to change my password each time when they send the alerts

Two named suburbs in Sydney so far, hackers have tried from. I haven't sent emails for ages, but this happened just when I started sending them again

Every time I hear an Indian caller, it is usually them asking for money in some fashion. It was when the "Telstra" scam artist called to say that I needed to check with my computer to find error messages on my computer. When he directed me to the event viewer to show me error messages, I found out that he had been conning me. It was only a month ago that I found this section of my computer with error messages. I was going to try learn how to fix my own computer so that the functionality of the computer could run well. But, after fiddling around with a few controls, my computer started running very well again. The only time my computer runs slow is when I do a full scan with my internet security program. Afterwards things run fast again. My computer is about 9 years old and has only had one adjustment -- more RAM installed -- since I bought the computer.

I have had the NAB account has been hacked. Then there is the Amazon account being charged with some fee, unless I call back and speak to someone. Thing is, I do not have either accounts and wonder how a foreign service would have access to anything regarding my phone number.

Telstra say that they have been blocking 1.5 million calls from scam artists per week. I just hope that somehow, some vigilante would screw up scam artists' computer system and leave the scammers with a lot of reorganising. But that would depend on the charity of a computer hacker vigilante.

UnSubRocky wrote on May 20^th, 2021 at 8:11pm:

Every time I hear an Indian caller, it is usually them asking for money in some fashion. It was when the "Telstra" scam artist called to say that I needed to check with my computer to find error messages on my computer. When he directed me to the event viewer to show me error messages, I found out that he had been conning me. It was only a month ago that I found this section of my computer with error messages. I was going to try learn how to fix my own computer so that the functionality of the computer could run well. But, after fiddling around with a few controls, my computer started running very well again. The only time my computer runs slow is when I do a full scan with my internet security program. Afterwards things run fast again. My computer is about 9 years old and has only had one adjustment -- more RAM installed -- since I bought the computer. I have had the NAB account has been hacked. Then there is the Amazon account being charged with some fee, unless I call back and speak to someone. Thing is, I do not have either accounts and wonder how a foreign service would have access to anything regarding my phone number. Telstra say that they have been blocking 1.5 million calls from scam artists per week. I just hope that somehow, some vigilante would screw up scam artists' computer system and leave the scammers with a lot of reorganising. But that would depend on the charity of a computer hacker vigilante.

Do NOT engage in conversation with any of those scammers!  Do NOT believe a word they say!  IF they get access to your computer by you following their "instructions", then you are in BIG BIG trouble. ::)

Bias_2012 wrote on May 20^th, 2021 at 6:13pm:

Just lately when I send an email somewhere, I get an alert from ebay giving me the location of a hacking attempt, trying to access my ebay account. Ebay strongly advises me to change my password each time when they send the alerts Two named suburbs in Sydney so far, hackers have tried from. I haven't sent emails for ages, but this happened just when I started sending them again

SCAMS everywhere. I have several Hotmail accounts and every so often I get an email to my ISP email account, telling me that my Hotmail account such and such has had some "illegal" activity and to log in and change my password. I treat those with IGNORE! My Hotmail accounts are NOT attached to my ISP email account. Direct that sort of stuff to the JUNK folder and DELETE immediately, don't even open them.

Neferti wrote on May 20^th, 2021 at 8:37pm:

Do NOT engage in conversation with any of those scammers!  Do NOT believe a word they say!  IF they get access to your computer by you following their "instructions", then you are in BIG BIG trouble. ::)

I am not that naive, nerf. Twenty years ago, someone calling up to make this kind of scam might have gotten by me. But, then again, twenty years ago, the computer I used had such little relevance to internet banking and other accounts that there was no need to be called by scam artists.

I do all my banking offline. All purchases I do online is paid for through bank payments. Someone getting access to my computer would only find that I surf the internet, play online games, and have little in terms of financial access to records.

I usually roll my eyes when the banks ask if I want to do online banking. I have had enough trouble with scam artists that I no longer trust the banks in regards to bank transfers. I do not even have a credit card.

Having learned about error messages and notification logs on my computer last year, it was easy to spot a scam. I just wanted to know how far I could go with these guys trying to scam me before I had to stop going any further. They probably would have had remote access to my computer if I typed in the website that they told me to use. It would probably take me a year of committed learning to become competent in advanced computer programming. But, I do know enough about computers to know when you are getting scammed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvqyIr-4jBk

UnSubRocky wrote on May 20^th, 2021 at 9:42pm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvqyIr-4jBk

Good vid

The police weren't interested! I wonder why, scared of being called racist I suppose

I definitely agree with UnSubRocky, the Telstra Call Guardian is brilliant. Had mine for 3 years now and my number of scam calls and general nuisance calls (surveys, etc.) has dropped to almost zero. 8-)

---

Ol' mate decided to call back this morning and have another go. I told him that I had already reported him to Telstra. He acted like I needed to prove that I had lost money from my bank account. I told him that it was irrelevant if I lost money or not. He had admitted to wanting to steal money. I asked him to repeat the website he wanted me to look up. He gave me "any desk.com" to google and then navigate there. Hung up straight after writing down the details. Reported him, this time, to scamwatch.

Scamwatch  7 June 2021



*Record Broken*   :-[

Scammers capitalise on pandemic as Australians lose record $851 million to scams

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians lost over $851 million to scams in 2020, a record amount, as scammers took advantage of the pandemic to con unsuspecting people, according to the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report released today.

The report compiles data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, other government agencies and 10 banks and financial intermediaries, and is based on more than 444,000 reports.

Investment scams accounted for the biggest losses, with $328 million, and made up more than a third of total losses. Romance scams were the next biggest category, costing Australians $131 million, while payment redirection scams resulted in $128 million of losses.

“Last year, scam victims reported the biggest losses we have seen, but worse, we expect the real losses will be even higher, as many people don’t report these scams,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Unfortunately scammers continue to become more sophisticated and last year used the COVID-19 pandemic to scam and take advantage of people from all walks of life during this crisis.”

Of the $851 million in combined losses, $176 million were reported to Scamwatch alone. (All losses described below are from Scamwatch data only).

“Victoria, which was significantly impacted by the second wave of the virus, recorded the highest losses nationwide for the first time and Victorians reported $49 million in losses to Scamwatch, more than double those in 2019.” Ms Rickard said.

Scamwatch   9 June 2021


Payment redirection scams cost Australian businesses $128 million in 2020

Dear radar subscriber,

Payment redirection scams were the most financially damaging scams for Australian businesses in 2020 according to the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report. Combined losses reported to Scamwatch, other government agencies, banks and payment platforms totalled $128 million in 2020.

Reports to Scamwatch show that Australian businesses lost $18 million to scams in 2020, a 260 per cent increase on losses reported in 2019.

“Small and micro businesses made most of the reports to Scamwatch and experienced an increase in losses in 2020, although larger businesses reported the highest losses,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

Based on Scamwatch data alone, false billing scams were the most commonly reported scam by businesses and accounted for three quarters of total losses to businesses. Small and micro businesses accounted for almost 60 per cent of these false billing reports.

There are a range of false billing scams, but the most common type was payment redirection scams, also known as business email compromise (BEC) scams, with 1,300 reports and $14 million in losses. This is a substantial increase from the 900 reports and $5 million in losses reported in 2019.

In a payment redirection scam, scammers impersonate a business or its employees via email and request an upcoming payment be redirected to a fraudulent account.

Scamwatch also observed a new type of scam in 2020 that targeted farmers looking for a good deal on tractors and farm machinery. Scammers advertised equipment at prices well below market value, and told farmers that they couldn’t view the tractors prior to purchase due to government restrictions from the pandemic. Farmers made payments to secure these special deals, when in reality the equipment never existed. Farmers were conned out of $1.1 million in these scams.

“One thing we know about scammers is that they will take advantage of a crisis,” Mr Keogh said.

From ACCC Scamwatch - 10/6/2021

I'm posting the full email this time, usually I only post about half, which is all that's necessary most of the time for these ACCC warnings. However, this one should be of particular interest to the left-wing globalist progressive posters here on Ozpol. It's about culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability, and Indigenous Australians. Chinese Mandarin speakers are targeted as well. Of course, all of us should be concerned about the millions being lost to scammers



CALD community lose $22 million to scams in 2020, reports from Indigenous Australians up by 25 per cent

Last year scammers stole close to $34 million collectively from people who identified as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability, and Indigenous Australians.

Figures from the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report released earlier this week shows losses to the CALD community represented a 60 per cent increase compared to 2019, across 11,700 reports.

“Last year we saw a big increase in losses to scams affecting culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Some members of CALD communities suffered higher losses on average than the overall community, accounting for one in every eight dollars lost.”

“Unfortunately, scheming scammers try to target people who by virtue of their background, disadvantage, language skills or disability may experience vulnerability, and be more likely to fall for their tricks,” Ms Rickard said.

Investment scams were responsible for $6.3 million in losses, the most costly type of scam for the CALD community.

This was followed by threat based scams, and people from CALD communities lost $6 million to these scams up 248 per cent from 2019.

The Chinese authority scam is a common threat based scam which cost people from the CALD community $4.3 million last year.

These scammers impersonate Chinese authorities and accuse their victims of committing a crime, such as sending a parcel with illegal goods like fake credit cards, and threaten them with deportation or arrest unless they paid money or provided their personal information.

“We received over 2,000 reports about Chinese authority scams in total last year with $7 million lost, and almost a quarter of these were from people with a CALD background,” Ms Rickard said.

“This shows that these scams continued to disproportionately target Mandarin speakers in Australia.”

Other threat based scams involved scammers impersonating Australian government departments such as the Australian Tax Office saying you will be arrested for unpaid tax and the Department of Home Affairs threatening to arrest you and have you deported.

Continued ....

“Australian governments will never threaten you with immediate arrest. Always stop and think about who you might be dealing with, and if you’re not sure whether the call is legitimate, hang up and call the organisation directly using contact details you independently source,” Ms Rickard said.

Scams also impacted Indigenous Australians in 2020. Last year Scamwatch received 3,455 reports with over $2 million in losses from Indigenous Australians. While the losses were 4 per cent lower than those in 2019, the reports increased by nearly 25 per cent.

The most financially damaging scams for Indigenous communities were dating and romance scams, followed by investment scams and online shopping scams.

People who identified as having disability made more than 7,500 reports to Scamwatch, and lost close to $10 million to scams last year. Dating and romance scams accounted for about half of these losses.

More than one third of reporters also said they had lost personal information. Meanwhile, 25 per cent of people without disability reported losing personal information.

“Unfortunately scammers do target all sectors of the community so it is important to stay alert,” Ms Rickard said.

“Remember, never give your credit card details or personal information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue no matter who they say they are, as scammers can do an excellent job impersonating the government and private sector organisations like banks and telephone companies."

"If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately,” Ms Rickard said.

The ACCC has translated the Little Black Book of Scams into ten languages to help the community understand and avoid scams.

The ACCC regularly engages in Indigenous outreach programs and shares scam warnings on the Your Rights Mob Facebook page.

I received three phone calls the day before yesterday, and one yesterday

They were about an Ebay purchase costing "X" amount of dollars. Aussie female voice, not the usual Indian voice

I hung up. I know exactly what I've purchased on Ebay and the costs. The cost she said didn't match anything I've purchased lately. I would have hung up anyway, I've never received phone calls about Ebay items before this, in the 15 years I've been on Ebay ... and the young lady failed to introduce herself nor did she say who she was working for at the beginning of her "automated" sounding spiel

She started off with: "Hi, you have just purchased an item on Ebay worth (so many dollars) .... that's where I hung up   

I got an international call from Myanmar. That is what the caller ID stated. Declined the call. A few minutes later, I got a call from a Melbourne number. Another time, I got a call from that Amazon scam callers. Weird that I have not purchased from Amazon or have an account with Amazon for the last several years.

ACCC Scamwatch - 24/8/21



Australians lose over $70 million to bogus investment opportunities

Dear radar subscriber,

Investment scams reported to Scamwatch have cost Australians over $70 million in the first half of this year, more than the total losses reported to Scamwatch for all of 2020, and projected losses are set to reach $140 million by the end of the year.

Data from Scamwatch shows a 53.4 per cent increase in reports about investment scams received so far, up from 3,104 in the first half of 2020 to 4,763 reports so far in 2021.

In addition to taking victims’ money, scammers often commit fraud or identity theft using the information they obtained from the victim.
Cryptocurrency trading scams

“Investment scams are more prevalent than ever, and scammers are capitalising on interest in cryptocurrency in particular,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“More than half of the $70 million in losses were to cryptocurrency, especially through Bitcoin, and cryptocurrency scams were also the most commonly reported type of investment scam, with 2,240 reports.”

Scammers pretend to have highly profitable trading systems based on individual expertise or through algorithms they developed. Many of these scams also use fake celebrity endorsements to try and enhance their legitimacy.

Victims will initially be able to access small returns sourced from other victims’ initial deposits but the scammers soon claim problems with making withdrawals and cut off contact.

“Be wary of investment opportunities with low risk and high returns. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Ms Rickard said.

Losses to investment scams involving Bitcoin have already reached $25.7 million this year, compared to $17.8 million across all of 2020, representing a 44 per cent increase.

Losses to other types of investment scams, including imposter bond scams, Ponzi scams, and romance baiting scams are also increasing, while traditional investment scams are also still very common.


The unwary and their money are soon parted

Continued ....


Snippets from the rest of the email


Imposter bond scams

In imposter bond scams, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and offer victims the opportunity to purchase fake corporate bonds.

In the first half of this year, there were over 58 reports and losses of more than $6.8 million reported to Scamwatch.

Older Australians looking for well-known respected companies to invest their money in have been the most impacted, making up 43 per cent of reports and accounting for almost half of the losses.



Ponzi schemes

Ponzi schemes have also increased. In the first six months of this year, Scamwatch received over 400 reports and more than $1 million in losses to the Hope Business and Wonderful World scams.

The ACCC contacted the Google & Apple apps stores & had the Hope business app removed. The main Wonderful World scam app has also been removed from the stores.

These scams disproportionately affected members of CALD communities including recent migrants from Burma and Sri Lanka.

Overall, more than 13 per cent of losses ($9.6 million) to investment scams were from people who spoke English as a second language.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jun 12^th, 2021 at 12:02pm:

I got an international call from Myanmar. That is what the caller ID stated. Declined the call. A few minutes later, I got a call from a Melbourne number. Another time, I got a call from that Amazon scam callers. Weird that I have not purchased from Amazon or have an account with Amazon for the last several years.

Same thing. This time Guam.

ACCC Scamwatch  -  27/9/2021



Losses reported to Scamwatch exceed $211 million, phone scams exploding

Dear radar subscriber,

Scamwatch is urging people to be extra vigilant about scams after Australians reported a record $211 million in losses to scams so far this year, an 89 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to new data from Scamwatch.

The losses, reported between 1 January and 19 September, have already surpassed the $175.6 million reported to Scamwatch across all of last year.

“It’s very concerning to see these scams evolving and becoming more sophisticated to steal even more money from unsuspecting people,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“While the proportion of reports involving a financial loss has dropped this year, the people who do lose money are losing bigger amounts. The average loss so far this year is about $11,000 compared to $7,000 for the same period in 2020.”

Many of these losses are from phone based scams, which accounted for over $63.6 million (31 per cent) of the losses. Additionally, of the 213,000 reports that Scamwatch received so far this year, 113,000 were about phone scams.

Scammers call or text people and claim to be from well-known businesses or government to steal people’s personal information.

“Scammers are pretending to be from companies such as Amazon or eBay and claiming large purchases have been made on the victim’s credit card. When they pretend to help you process a refund, they actually gain remote access to your computer and steal your personal and banking details,” Ms Rickard said.

“In August, the new Flubot malware scams masquerading as fake voicemail and parcel delivery scams exploded, which have resulted in more than 13,000 reports in just eight weeks.”

“These scams are particularly concerning in our current climate, as many people are turning to online shopping because of the COVID-19 lockdowns,” Ms Rickard said.

I had some scammer sending text messages about an expensive gift I had bought. There was a problem, just click on this nice link and the problem will be fixed. Quite persistent little scammer too, I even got a “Your gift is being returned to the warehouse” text with yet another link to be clicked.

I had not bought anything when I started getting those texts so easy to just delete the texts but with more people buying more online I am sure the scam will be lucrative for the damn scammer.

Just got a phone call “My Amazon Prime membership is being renewed and your bank account will have $99 deducted. Of course the obligatory “If you want to cancel your Prime membership press 1 now.” Yeah sure.

latest scam doing the rounds is some demented unemployed  fat greek woman living in a housing commission flat pretending she's a millionaire property guru with a new kid born every two years :D :D

Whoever could you be talking about?   ;D

ACCC Scamwatch  -  22/11/2021



Watch out for fake online deals and avoid scammers this sales season

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians have already lost about $12.9 million to online shopping including classifieds scams so far this year, and the ACCC is urging consumers to watch out for dodgy deals as pre-holiday sales approach.

Scamwatch has received over 26,000 reports of online shopping scams, more than the total reported through all of 2020. This is consistent with global trends from 2020 as more people shop online during the pandemic.

“This is a very busy time of year, and scammers often try to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers rushing to organise gifts,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“People are often searching for the best deals online, especially in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, so it’s easy to be caught off guard and fall for a scam.”

In an online shopping scam, scammers create realistic looking fake online stores selling items at heavily discounted prices, however the items are fake, or never delivered to buyers.

Scammers have also created fake stores on social media platforms or post fake ads on legitimate classifieds websites. They may request payment or offer discounts for payments made through direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency.

“Before you buy, it’s important to be aware of the possibility of scams. While some scammers try to make online stores look legitimate by requesting payment via PayPal or credit card, always double check that the real PayPal platform is being used. Be suspicious of too good to be true offers and any sellers that ask you to pay by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency,” Ms Rickard said.

“Research the seller and make sure you know who you are buying from. Search online for the product or company name, plus “complaint” or “scam” to see what other people are saying. If you are buying from a social networking site, check the seller’s history and read reviews from other people who have dealt with them.”

“When you’re paying, avoid arrangements that ask for up-front payment via bank transfer, or payment through digital currency, like Bitcoin. Always try to use a secure payment service such as PayPal or credit card transaction,” Ms Rickard said.

If you’re waiting for your parcel, remember that scammers also take advantage of people expecting deliveries.

“Australia Post and other parcel delivery companies will never email, call or text you asking for personal or financial information or a payment. Many delivery companies have apps where you can track your parcels rather than clicking on links in messages or emails,” Ms Rickard said.

Losses to online shopping scams are spread across most age groups, but people aged 25-34 lost the most money, at $2.4 million.



I got a fake PayPay one four days ago making out I won a $500 PayPay gift card

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General   for Development Coordination, In Affiliation with World Bank.   


Dear Beneficiary,

We have previously sent you emails in respect of your outstanding compensation payment which has since been assigned to you. We were going through your payment portfolio and came to a logical conclusion that you are yet to receive your 2021 Covid-19 compensation payment. 



We must get you informed that your email was listed among those that are yet to receive their compensation payment. The United Nations in Affiliation with the World Bank have agreed to compensate each with the sum of USD1,500, 000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) only.
 

For this reason, you are to receive your payment through a certified ATM CARD PAYMENT. Note, with this ATM Card you can withdraw money and also make payment anywhere in the World without any problem and please for no reason should you disclose your account information as your account information is not and can never be needed before you receive your card payment.

Contact Name: Dr. Marius Rademeyer
Email: drmariusrademeyer2021@webmail.co.za
 

Please ensure that you follow the directives and instructions of Dr. Marius Rademeyer so that within 24-72 hours you would have received your card payment and your secret pin code issued directly to you for security reasons. We apologize on behalf of the United Nations Development Coordination for any delay you might have encountered in the past.

Yours Faithfully,

Assistant Secretary General-General- Volker Turk
United Nations for Strategic Coordination

Woohoo!! Santa came early this year...

I have had two anonymous texts on my iPhone that I was “featured in a video” with the link provided. Of course—I did not click on the link.

I've been getting this one lately ....

"YOUR SUBSCRIPTION MCAFEE HAS EXPIRED!"

"After the expiry date has passed your devices will become vulnerable for Hackers.

Referentie code      47126US
Name      (......)
date expires      Tue,22 Dec-2021
account-ID (......)

Keep your Devices Safe NOW >>
Available (-60%) Renewal Discount Today : 4 min 19 sec

Renew your subscription by clicking the button bellow.

RENEW NOW"



I deleted the name and account ID. The name was part of my email address, and the account ID would have been made up because I don't have Mcafee.

Yesterday I got:

You *can* track your orders

and a nice link to click on.


I deleted the text message. Obviously, it was trying to use people ordering more stuff from Amazon etc.

Bias_2012 wrote on Jan 15^th, 2022 at 11:11am:

I've been getting this one lately .... "YOUR SUBSCRIPTION MCAFEE HAS EXPIRED!" "After the expiry date has passed your devices will become vulnerable for Hackers. Referentie code      47126US Name      (......) date expires      Tue,22 Dec-2021 account-ID (......) Keep your Devices Safe NOW >> Available (-60%) Renewal Discount Today : 4 min 19 sec Renew your subscription by clicking the button bellow. RENEW NOW" I deleted the name and account ID. The name was part of my email address, and the account ID would have been made up because I don't have Mcafee.

could it have been preinstalled in your pc when you bought it?

The grammar and spelling ("bellow") strongly suggests it is a scam... especially if you don't even have McAfee installed to start with.

And, what the heck is a "Referentie code"?

John Smith wrote on Jan 21^st, 2022 at 10:22am:

could it have been preinstalled in your pc when you bought it?

I bought it new, a Mac, never had Mcafee. When I did have a security software, it was Norton on an old Windows PC

Even without that, there's the mistakes in it that Carl has pointed out


Yesterday on the news a couple sent $1.1 million to a scammer, they thought it was their solicitor who sent the email. They got the money back after the bank froze the funds before it got to the scammer

https://www.9news.com.au/national/online-scams-australia-sydney-family-conned-out-of-1-million-dollars-after-falling-victim-to-email-scam/aafa065a-4a64-4031-8d09-1e6f544a9def

Close call

Bias_2012 wrote on Jan 21^st, 2022 at 11:35am:

Yesterday on the news a couple sent $1.1 million to a scammer, they thought it was their solicitor who sent the email. They got the money back after the bank froze the funds before it got to the scammer

Most solicitors I've dealt with lately won't accept account details via email. Scammers are intercepting emails to/from lawyers and changing the account details. Especially painful if lawyer is doing conveyancing.

Once they send the money it's gone forever.

Bias_2012 wrote on Jan 21^st, 2022 at 11:35am:

I bought it new, a Mac, never had Mcafee. When I did have a security software, it was Norton on an old Windows PC

I bought a tablet once that had 3 months free mcafee pre installed. I never used it or activated it as I prefer norton, but once it ran out of it's trial period I kept getting reminders.

Carl is correct though, the spelling and grammer makes this most likely a scam.

Just got this on my iPhone:

ATO: You are suspected in Tax Evasion. Connect your crypotocurrency Wallet to provide transaction history. . .

“suspected in” not “suspected of”

Nice website address: https://my.gov.au.wallet-security.info/ Obviously fake.

This one I got today

I've only posted the text, but there was an almost convincing "Express Track & Trace" picture, and icons ... no such company as far as I can see, just made up ... and my address certainly doesn't need verifying


"Your delivery has been picked up by us

           Your parcel

Barcode Number: HH08767725003

YOUR Package is ready to be shipped

Delivery address verification is needed, this process must be completed within 24 hours

verify your shipping address now"

Make of this what you will ... the Russian blurb was in the email also, in faint text. Not sure what this email is all about but the heading is a link that can be clicked on in the email. I think it might be better just to delete the email altogether

The University of Melbourne and Steve Baxter in a surprising collaboration

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Yuriy and his father hoped to pick up some medicine and food. Yuriy said a Russian soldier stopped him and his father on Tarasivska St. They immediately raised their hands. Yuriy and his father hoped to pick up some medicine and food. Yuriy said a Russian soldier stopped him and his father on Tarasivska St. They immediately raised their hands. Speaking to the BBC by phone alongside his mother, Alla, the 14-year-old gave his account of what happened next. Speaking to the BBC by phone alongside his mother, Alla, the 14-year-old gave his account of what happened next. At that point, the teenager said, the soldier shot him in his left hand and he fell too. While he was on the ground, he said, he was shot again, this time in the arm. At that point, the teenager said, the soldier shot him in his left hand and he fell too. While he was on the ground, he said, he was shot again, this time in the arm. Yuriy said the soldier shot again, this time at his father's head. But Ruslan was already dead.

I made an order for something over a month ago. I was told that the product was getting shipped about 2 weeks ago. Nothing has been dispatched to my knowledge. I have been told that the public holidays have set back packages being sent (as well as the panicdemic bs overloading the mail system). How long after I have been told that I have a package arriving do I have before I can cancel my order as it deemed not sent?

UnSubRocky wrote on May 2^nd, 2022 at 5:51pm:

I made an order for something over a month ago. I was told that the product was getting shipped about 2 weeks ago. Nothing has been dispatched to my knowledge. I have been told that the public holidays have set back packages being sent (as well as the panicdemic bs overloading the mail system). How long after I have been told that I have a package arriving do I have before I can cancel my order as it deemed not sent?

It should have been assigned a delivery date, for example: "Delivery arrival between !5th April - 1st May"

If your item didn't have an arrival time assigned to it, then work out how long items normally take to get to your place from where ever it was sent. Take action if it's taking longer, and don't hold back. If it all comes to a dead end, you've probably been scammed, but keep working on it

The mail delivery situation is not as bad as we think it is. I'm in the bush and my parcels have been turning up on time with only a few exceptions which weren't all that late

Leave it no longer that two weeks after it was supposed to arrive to contact someone, but even before that, it's a good idea to start tracking it down

Bias_2012 wrote on May 2^nd, 2022 at 7:56pm:

Leave it no longer that two weeks after it was supposed to arrive to contact someone, but even before that, it's a good idea to start tracking it down

I seem to vaguely recall something on paypals terms and conditions about notifying them of undelivered items within a week or two of the due date or you are no longer covered by their guarantee.

If you have an estimated arrival date, as soon as that has lapsed, chase it up. If it's on it's way and stuck in some Australia Post depot you should have at the very least you should have received notification that Aust. post has received the parcel.

Just looked at the tracking number. It now says May 9th (3 weeks after it was first dispatched). Covid delays and weather events holding back deliveries. I figure I am getting scammed. But, I understand that I can go through my bank about getting my money back -- terms and conditions be buggered for the company.

Package came today.

I wants me a sandwicheses.

John Smith wrote on Jan 21^st, 2022 at 12:04pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Jan 21st, 2022 at 11:35am: Yesterday on the news a couple sent $1.1 million to a scammer, they thought it was their solicitor who sent the email. They got the money back after the bank froze the funds before it got to the scammer Most solicitors I've dealt with lately won't accept account details via email. Scammers are intercepting emails to/from lawyers and changing the account details. Especially painful if lawyer is doing conveyancing. Once they send the money it's gone forever.

Conveyancers (lawyers!) I use in Tassie did ask for my account details by email. Well they have them and I won’t supply them via email again!

We got one at work claiming to be from IT, saying we need to check our passwords at a certain link due to government regulations. At least one person fell for it.

I got a few calls today from someone claiming to be from Ebay saying that my account has been charged $299. If I wanted to cancel the charge, I would have to go through the "call 1 for cancellation; call 2 to speak to someone", etc.

I wonder which Australian woman was used to provide the robocall voice. Does she know that her voice is being used for these scams?

Couple lose $500k. They checked with ASIC first, but still lost their money

"I even called ASIC to check the company existed and it did."


https://www.9news.com.au/national/scams-australia-nsw-couple-loses-500000-to-highly-sophisticated-aussie-scam/95ec5a60-a34e-48ec-ab86-3248f614e343



The moral of the story: ASIC is of little use when checking if a company is legitimate or not

The couple should now sue ASIC for conveying false information

Bias_2012 wrote on May 16^th, 2022 at 8:51pm:

Couple lose $500k. They checked with ASIC first, but still lost their money "I even called ASIC to check the company existed and it did." https://www.9news.com.au/national/scams-australia-nsw-couple-loses-500000-to-highly-sophisticated-aussie-scam/95ec5a60-a34e-48ec-ab86-3248f614e343 The moral of the story: ASIC is of little use when checking if a company is legitimate or not The couple should now sue ASIC for conveying false information

The company mostly is real it's just that the people emailing or contacting you have nothing to do with that company.

Bias_2012 wrote on May 16^th, 2022 at 8:51pm:

Couple lose $500k. They checked with ASIC first, but still lost their money "I even called ASIC to check the company existed and it did." https://www.9news.com.au/national/scams-australia-nsw-couple-loses-500000-to-highly-sophisticated-aussie-scam/95ec5a60-a34e-48ec-ab86-3248f614e343 The moral of the story: ASIC is of little use when checking if a company is legitimate or not The couple should now sue ASIC for conveying false information

What false information?

this is brilliant. I'm going to do this next time I get some scammer phoning me ;D ;D



https://youtu.be/a6a-CZMrVAg

Here's one I reckon a lot of people would click on .... not sure if it's a scam ... I just delete them anyway

The only thing I could find on "flichta" is this: https://www.twitch.tv/flichta/schedule


On 17 May 2022, at 22:33, Robert Irwin <info@fiichta.com> wrote:


(Pictures of Waleed Aly and Dick Smith in this space)

                                    Should be "that"
                                                ↓   
Smith's controversial interview tham will forever change the way you see him
He didn't know the camera was still recording and he dropped a bomb on live TV. The authorities are angry and the producers are trying to take action. Is this the end of his career?

Read more
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The chip shortage has exposed just how dependent the world is on semiconductor manufacturers in Asia, with the vast majority of chips produced by TSMC in Taiwan alone by TSMC in Taiwan alone . Taiwan's TSMC is the world's biggest maker of computer chips Among those who want to wrestle back some of that market share is the European Commission (EC), which in February announced a Chips Act. Among those who want to wrestle back some of that market share is the European Commission (EC), which in February announced which in February announced a Chips Act. The EC will plough 43bn euros (£36bn) of public and private investment into Europe's semiconductor industry. The Commission hopes to, among other things, increase the region's share of global chip manufacturing - from less than 10% to 20%. The EC will plough 43bn euros (£36bn) of public and private investment into Europe's semiconductor industry. The Commission hopes to, among other things, increase the region's share of global chip manufacturing - from less than 10% to 20%.

UNSUBSCRIBE

If a company initiates contact with me regards an 'investment' it is not a bona fide investment.

If I contact them first, that is different.

Anyone with the ANZ bank might fall for this one. I'm not with ANZ so I'll delete it, it's got nothing to do with me

Note the spelling mistake "then" instead of "than"... and there's no mention of which payment has been blocked



https://s3.amazonaws.com/pro.brandkit.io/accounts/anz/asset_files/201181/large_thumb_preview.png?

You are receiving this alert because your card transaction was more then the limit we set.

For security this payment has been blocked

You can visit our website to help answer your questions or manage your account.

Please click on the link below

Review account


ABOUT THIS MESSAGE

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This service email was sent based on your alert settings. Use the ANZ Mobile app or visit ANZ to view or manage your settings.

ANZ cannot guarantee the delivery of alerts and notifications. Wireless or internet service provider outages or other circumstances could delay them. You can always check  ANZ or the ANZ Mobile app for the status of your accounts including your latest account balances and transaction details.

To protect your personal information, please don't reply to this message. ANZ won't ask for confidential information in an email.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 26^th, 2020 at 4:28pm:

Captain Nemo wrote on Jun 23rd, 2020 at 1:33pm: I bought a book on eBay called "How to avoid being scammed on eBay". That was 2 months ago, and it still hasn't arrived yet ...  :-/ From about 40 transactions on Ebay I only got scammed twice - the goods never arrived. Both were for less than $30 amounts so I was still ahead as I was buying things at about 50% of the price in our shops. There was still a considerable saving from the other 38 good transactions. By the way - PayPal never refunded my money - all their guarantees are worthless.

I've been on eBay since it came out and the only times I was scammed, it was by eBay.  Old people are very vulnerable, of course

Here's another one where the victim checked with ASIC first up ... still lost her money, 750k


Woman issues warning to others after losing $750,000 of her life savings

"I checked out that they were a registered company with ASIC and they had an Australian financial securities licence number," Lowry told A Current Affair.

"I gave the information to my accountant as well … for him to verify the legitimacy of the purchase of the bonds and the company."

In December, Lowry went to her local bank and tele-transferred her money to an account provided.


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/bond-scam-australia-cybercrime-expert-reveals-tips-to-spot-fraud/bfb79fd4-ff2d-455e-8ed3-75e78e4a447e

ACCC Scamwatch 4th July


Scams robbed Australians of more than $2 billion last year

Dear radar subscriber,

Australians lost a record amount of more than $2 billion to scams in 2021, despite government, law enforcement, and the private sector disrupting more scam activity than ever before, the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report reveals.

The report compiles data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, major banks and money remitters, and other government agencies, and is based on analysis of more than 560,000 reports. Reported losses to all organisations totalled almost $1.8 billion, but as one-third of victims do not report scams the ACCC estimates actual losses were well over $2 billion.

Investment scams were the highest loss category ($701 million) in 2021, followed by payment redirection scams ($227 million), and romance scams ($142 million).

“Scam activity continues to increase, and last year a record number of Australians lost a record amount of money,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

“Scammers are the most opportunistic of all criminals: they pose as charities after a natural disaster, health departments during a pandemic, and love interests every day.”

“The true cost of scams is more than a dollar figure as they also cause serious emotional harm to individuals, families, and businesses,” Ms Rickard said.

Based on reports to Scamwatch in 2021, women reported the most scams but men lost more money than women, and men’s losses to investment scams were double women’s losses. In culturally and linguistically diverse communities, women had slightly higher losses than men.

People aged 65 and over reported the highest losses, and reported losses steadily increased with age.

In 2021, Scamwatch received record levels of reports and losses from Australians that may have been experiencing vulnerability or hardship. People with disability made twice as many reports compared to 2020, and their financial losses increased by 102 per cent to $19.6 million.

The number of reports by Indigenous Australians increased by 43 per cent between 2020 and 2021, and reported losses increased by 142 per cent.

Continued ....


People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities experienced an 88 per cent increase in losses last year compared to 2020.

“The increasing number of reports by people experiencing vulnerability is a very worrying trend. Everyone from government, to banks, and digital platforms needs to do more to address this,” Ms Rickard said.

“The ACCC is particularly wanting banks to match payee information in pay anyone transactions. This has been shown to have a real impact in countries that have done so.”

ACCC research presented in the report shows that scams are almost ubiquitous in Australia today. Ninety-six per cent of respondents had been exposed to scammers in the previous five years, and 20 per cent had fallen victim. Of those who lost money, 56 per cent were unable to recover any of it.

In 2021, the ACCC increased its work with government agencies, domestic and international law enforcement, and major banks and telecommunications providers to share intelligence, disrupt scams and raise awareness in the community.

An international effort involving the Australian Federal Police led to the Flubot scam being stopped earlier this year. In 2021, the telecommunications sector’s new Reducing Scam Calls Industry Code resulted in more than 357 million scam calls being blocked.

“The public and private sectors have introduced a number of new counter fraud initiatives over the last couple of years, but there are still too many gaps in the system that scammers are able to exploit,” Ms Rickard said.

Scamwatch data shows that between 2020 and 2021 there was a 60 per cent reduction in losses from inheritance and unexpected money scams, and only a one per cent increase in losses from travel, prizes and lottery scams. Conversely, losses from investment scams increased by 169 per cent over the 12 months.

“We have seen a marked decline in some of the older, low-end scams and an enormous increase in more sophisticated ‘white-collar’ fraud, such as cryptocurrency investment scams,” Ms Rickard said.

“There was a spike last year in scams relating to pyramid and ponzi schemes, largely due to the emergence of some sophisticated ponzi investment scam apps.”

“If an investment opportunity seems too good to be true, we urge all Australians to not go anywhere near it,” Ms Rickard said.

Bias_2012 wrote on Jun 21^st, 2022 at 12:08pm:

Anyone with the ANZ bank might fall for this one. I'm not with ANZ so I'll delete it, it's got nothing to do with me Note the spelling mistake "then" instead of "than"... and there's no mention of which payment has been blocked https://s3.amazonaws.com/pro.brandkit.io/accounts/anz/asset_files/201181/large_thumb_preview.png? You are receiving this alert because your card transaction was more then the limit we set. For security this payment has been blocked You can visit our website to help answer your questions or manage your account. Please click on the link below Review account ABOUT THIS MESSAGE ANZ Mobile® app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. This service email was sent based on your alert settings. Use the ANZ Mobile app or visit ANZ to view or manage your settings. ANZ cannot guarantee the delivery of alerts and notifications. Wireless or internet service provider outages or other circumstances could delay them. You can always check  ANZ or the ANZ Mobile app for the status of your accounts including your latest account balances and transaction details. To protect your personal information, please don't reply to this message. ANZ won't ask for confidential information in an email.

"Hovering" the mouse over the link usually shows that the link is a very dodgy looking link.  ;)

Hows this for an elaborate scam  :D :D :D



Quote:

Indian police bust fake cricket league streamed for Russian punters Police in India have shut down an elaborate hoax cricket league that saw labourers masquerading as professional cricket players allegedly to dupe gamblers in Russia Fashioned along the lines of the popular Indian Premier League, a group of men in the western Indian state of Gujarat hired a field, set up cameras and asked local labourers to dress up in team uniforms and play cricket. The games were then streamed on YouTube to unsuspecting betting operations in Russia, who bet on match outcomes, Achal Tyagi, the top police official in Mehsana district told Reuters. "They had umpires with walkie-talkie sets to officiate as they have in IPL and international cricket matches. The set-up was good enough to trick unsuspecting people into believing it was a genuine cricket league," Mr Tyagi said. Police arrested four people in connection with the case on Friday. The organisers broadcast at least five matches on YouTube. Gamblers had bet 300,000 rupees (almost $6,000) on the matches, the BBC reported. Mr Tyagi said the umpires were telling players whether to score runs or get out depending on the instructions they were given on the walkie-talkie sets received from the organisers, who in turn were receiving instructions from an accomplice in Russia on the Telegram app. Betting on cricket is illegal in India, and the four arrested have been charged with criminal conspiracy and gambling, local officials said. IPL — the world's richest T20 league — was embroiled in an illegal betting scandal in 2013 which led to two-year suspensions for its Chennai and Rajasthan franchises. The 10-team league is hugely popular. The sale of its media rights for the next five years fetched the organising Indian cricket board $US6.2 billion ($9.19 billion) last month.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-12/indian-police-bust-fake-cricket-league-ipl-russian-gamblers/101229466


just think how successful they could  be if they put all that effort into something legitimate ::)

Anybody seen a scam to do with PayPal?

Like “I paid $1,XYZ” and $1000 is for Joe Blow and when you pay that $1000 Paypal will give you the $1,XYZ.

Why not pay Joe Blow yourself? $1000 seems excessive for a “removalist” (1 cupboard!)

“PayPal” email address:

"service@paypal.com.au" <PayPaPaymentCentres@accountant.com>

Fake as.

Quote:

Drivers warned about toll road text scam as Aussies lose record amount A Gold Coast woman has issued a warning to drivers after $4,000 was charged to her credit card by text message scammers posing as toll road operator Linkt. Poleta Lillico received a text message advising her of a failed toll payment and requesting she settle the outstanding amount. She thought it was genuine, so paid $20 into her toll road account through the Linkt app. Just days later a $4,000 charge appeared on her credit card. "I was in, as you can imagine, massive shock," Ms Lillico said. "I wasn't even thinking straight. I was in such shock." Ms Lillico said she was unsure how the text message scammers got her details. "I may have clicked on the link but I didn't pay for anything through the link, I went to my Linkt app on my phone," she said. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC ) said it had received about 750 reports of this type of scam since January. An ACCC spokesperson said recipients received a text message with a link that directed them to pay a bill or provide details, and victims had already lost about $29,000. "For victims that have clicked on the link and provided all details they would then find fraudulent transactions on their credit card," the spokesperson said. Bank response 'not acceptable' Ms Lillico immediately contacted her bank but was frustrated with the response.  "They just try and get you off the phone as quickly as possible and say it's not their problem," she said. "And I just went, 'That's not acceptable'. "They tried to tell me there was nothing they could do about it. "It [the transaction] showed up as overseas from America and my algorithms on my account clearly show that I'm in Australia for my daily spend. "There's really no excuse for how that slipped through the way it did."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-17/drivers-warned-over-toll-road-scam-posing-as-linkt/101322568

Here's a good one - "Hi Mum" scams

From an ACCC email ....

ACCC warning of suspicious messages as “Hi Mum” scams spike
Scamwatch is urging the public to be wary of phone messages from a family member or friend claiming they need help, following a significant rise in “Hi Mum” scams in recent months.

More than 1,150 Australians fell victim to the so-called “Hi Mum” scam in the first seven months of this year, with total reported losses of $2.6 million. The vast majority of these scams were reported in June and July 2022.

Known as “Hi Mum” or “family impersonation” scams, victims are contacted - most often through WhatsApp - by a scammer posing as a family member or friend.

The scammer will claim they have lost or damaged their phone and are making contact from a new number. Then, once they have developed a rapport with their target, the scammer will ask for personal information such as photos for their social media profile or money to help urgently pay a bill, contractor or replace the phone.

These requests continue the ruse of a lost or broken phone with the justification that the funds are needed because they can’t access their online banking temporarily.

Some messages will simply say “it’s me,” while in other cases the scammers appear to have contact information and use the name of the person they are impersonating.

“We have seen an explosion in the number of ‘Hi Mum’ scams in the past couple of months, and so we are warning Australians to be very wary of messages from unknown numbers claiming to be from their children, parents, relatives or friends,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.


During the Battle of the Bulge in WW2, English speaking Germans wearing American uniforms infiltrated the American front line. The Yanks devised a way to catch them, they would ask questions only Americans would know the answers to

In response to these "Hi Mum" emails, family members should ask questions that only family members would know the answers to - Just a thought, but it's what I'd do

I am selling a block of land. In the correspondence from my conveyancer is this clause:


Quote:

FRAUD WARNING:  Due to the increasing number of frauds relating to the transfer of money we request that YOU DO NOT act on any email, letter or fax purporting to be from our office asking you to transfer or deposit money without first contacting us by telephone to confirm the authenticity of the request.

This is good advice for any type of online transaction. Look the number of the entity up yourself, then ring etc. Do not use tel numbers or email addies in the correspondence!

Got one today!

“Hi mum. I changed my provider.
Temporarily using this number till
I get my old one back. Let me
Know if you received this.”

Well I sent to my daughter and she texted back “Wow”
And my son… should I write what he texted? Nah better not… swear filter in here anyway  ;D
I’ve blocked the number.

And last week I was shopping and my phone rings…
I answer hello… (nothing) then I say hello again…
And an automated female recording comes in saying it was from some company and an automatic debit will be deducted from my credit card… and if I wish to stop it… to press 1 now.

I just hung up.
I’ve blocked that number also.

But that instinct to press 1 is a trap for many and what happens after?

Jovial Monk wrote on Sep 1^st, 2022 at 11:02am:

I am selling a block of land. In the correspondence from my conveyancer is this clause: Quote: FRAUD WARNING:  Due to the increasing number of frauds relating to the transfer of money we request that YOU DO NOT act on any email, letter or fax purporting to be from our office asking you to transfer or deposit money without first contacting us by telephone to confirm the authenticity of the request. This is good advice for any type of online transaction. Look the number of the entity up yourself, then ring etc. Do not use tel numbers or email addies in the correspondence!

Yes be careful. They’re watching to intercept transfers and change just one letter in the name that may go unnoticed.
It happened to my son’s bro in law. $50,000 went astray (he does a lot of business)

I'm still getting emails and Indian phone calls

This is the latest email, just one line ...



CC Carol Carter
I can't reach you


Hello have you changed your mobile number? I haven‘t been able to reach you for three days

Jim Browning is the Internet alias of a software engineer and
YouTuber from Northern Ireland whose content focuses on scam
baiting and investigating call centres engaging in fraudulent activities.

https://www.youtube.com/c/JimBrowning

Well worth a look.

I love the Amazon prime scam calls.

You get a call saying your prime membership is up for renewal and press 1 to proceed and you get connected with the scammer.

I ask if I can speak to Jeff and ask for a ride on his rocket. Scammer laughs and hangs up

Sometimes (When I feel like it) I talk to them right up to the point where they want me to install some type of remote desktop software.

The reason I keep them on the line is that the more time they are talking to me the less time they have to scam someone else.

I have thought about giving them access to a sandbox to see what they would do but have never got around to bothering.

Aged pensioner's warning after being fleeced by cruel toll scam

By Brady Halls|A day ago


Pensioner received a text message from his toll collection company Linkt saying a recent toll was not registered and to avoid a fine could he pay the $5 toll.

It looked legitimate so he paid the $5, then $11,000 went missing from his account - sucko - all he had to do was call Linkt


"The two major toll collection companies, Linkt and Etoll, said they don't send customers texts about non-payments, so if you receive one, the advice is to just ignore it."


"The ACCC said tens of thousands of Aussies have been hit by this scam and once the criminals get your credit card they go shopping immediately."


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-aged-pensioner-fleeced-by-toll-scam/2bd56abe-6b4a-4608-8284-f0a8aed8de33

Mother on maternity leave 'devastated' to lose $10,000 in hack

By Lucy Slade
9News Staff
9:05pm Nov 10, 2022

Woman checking bank balance found there was $10,000 missing

Hackers bypassed her ING security allowing the hackers to make multiple undetected payments

ING claims she may not get her money back because she didn't secure her access code

ING is blaming her

https://www.9news.com.au/national/mother-on-maternity-leave-devastated-to-lose-10k-after-ing-bank-account-hack/5a7f9000-f5e2-418e-9da2-484853897e88


Here's a tip ... Don't let your computer "remember" your bank account passwords or codes

Couple's battle with bank over $249,000 scam

By Nat Wallace|5 hours ago


Lady responds to fake Microsoft employees and loses $249,000


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-couples-battle-with-bendigo-bank-over-scam-inaction/eb4caace-360e-4e67-adcc-35b6d3ef8901

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 30^th, 2022 at 11:16pm:

Couple's battle with bank over $249,000 scam By Nat Wallace|5 hours ago Lady responds to fake Microsoft employees and loses $249,000 https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-couples-battle-with-bendigo-bank-over-scam-inaction/eb4caace-360e-4e67-adcc-35b6d3ef8901

Bendigo Back were irresponsible and incompetent.

With the knowledge of what happened here nobody should trust them with their money, they won't even take the basic minimum steps to protect your money.

Dnarever wrote on Nov 30^th, 2022 at 11:25pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 30th, 2022 at 11:16pm: Couple's battle with bank over $249,000 scam.. Bendigo Back were irresponsible and incompetent. With the knowledge of what happened here nobody should trust them with their money, they won't even take the basic minimum steps to protect your money.

I'd have to disagree with the claim that Bendigo Bank were solely to blame.
The principal cause of this fraud was the lack of due diligence by the couple
and their divulging their bank account number and password to scammers,
who apparently were based in Nigeria.  The initial $10 withdrawal of course
should've sounded alarm bells.

Bendigo Bank says:

"We would like to take the opportunity to remind customers of the
important role they play in keeping their information secure, and in particular,
not providing their access details and passwords to anyone else.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank contacted the financial institution that received
the funds immediately upon learning of the fraud. The receiving financial
institution subsequently advised that it has not been able to recover
the funds".

Bendigo can't really be expected to personally spoon feed all their account
customers can they?  At any rate, they acted appropriately once the fraud
was detected.  They can't be expected to do much more.

It's truly unfortunate for the couple, but I'm guessing they can say goodbye
to their money.

Couple lose $100,000 to highly-sophisticated PayPal scam email. I can't believe intelligent people are still allowing themselves to be scammed

Send the email to PayPal and let them sort it out, and also send it to ACCC Scamwatch. Just don't reply to the email, it's as simple as that


https://www.9news.com.au/national/bank-scams-australia-sydney-couple-scammed-100000-dollars-two-hours/52d26d0a-c1f7-43d9-8955-330c182dfcb6


I've been getting emails from what looks like my internet service provider, and they look real, more so because I've just been in a dispute with my provider. It says I should update my card details

I'm ignoring the emails and waiting to see if my internet connection is cut off, so far it hasn't been, and my payments are still showing up in my bank account

Elderly woman loses $260,000 to scam ... blames Commonwealth Bank

Australians lose record $3.1 billion to scams in 2022

Investment scams stole $1.5b in 2022: report


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-17/australian-money-losses-to-scams-tops-3b-accc-report-says/102223720


All these victims are allowed to vote at elections, sad isn't it?

Two more scam emails sent to my computer


Your payment is due
Hi (email address)
Our third attempt to charge your payment method has failed. Your account might be at risk of cancellation.
Previous charge attempted on
04-May-2023 00:22:47
Due since
01-Apr-2023
Please complete your payment as soon as possible for continued service.

Click here to update your payment method
If you have questions about this payment or your subscription, please visit our extensive Help Center to find answers and to get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you.
Kind regards,

The (internet provider) Team

This scammer has an extensive Help Center ............ to empty your bank account





Australia Post
                         Package Stuck In transit
It's on its way   
Incorrect Address
From Australia Post Online Shop
Tracking number LZ9251301235AU
Expected  Friday,  05 May 2023  - Saturday 06 May 2023
Your package with the tracking number is being held at the local post office,

and we are waiting for your authorization to redeliver it.

Please provide your correct shipping address and pay the additional delivery fee

to complete the delivery process ($3.00)

Click here to initiate the redelivery process.
     
Schedule Delivery


No such tracking number ..... I put it through Aust Post's Tracking .... no show

I got my third or fourth NBN helpdesk call about my internet speed, the other day. I just tell them "no thanks" and disengage the call. Then I report them to scamwatch.

UnSubRocky wrote on May 7^th, 2023 at 4:56pm:

I got my third or fourth NBN helpdesk call about my internet speed, the other day. I just tell them "no thanks" and disengage the call. Then I report them to scamwatch.

I haven't got one of those for ages, not since I started just simply hanging up without saying anything, that's how you get rid of the pests

A scammer will give you $750 to help you with your tight home budget

https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2023-text-scam-warning-mygov-message/29535057-bd1c-455c-998a-24e3ad88c40c

'MAGA'

The biggest scam of this century

UnSubRocky wrote on May 7^th, 2023 at 4:56pm:

I got my third or fourth NBN helpdesk call about my internet speed, the other day. I just tell them "no thanks" and disengage the call. Then I report them to scamwatch.

I get them call about my home internet connection ... I don't even have the nbn at home :D :D :D :D :D

John Smith wrote on May 10^th, 2023 at 7:18am:

'MAGA' The biggest scam of this century

Off topic that one

The $750 was offered in the scammer's email, and the timing was right because it was sent just after the fed budget was brought down

It seems you failed to understand what was in the link

Bias_2012 wrote on May 9^th, 2023 at 11:21pm:

A scammer will give you $750 to help you with your tight home budget https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2023-text-scam-warning-mygov-message/29535057-bd1c-455c-998a-24e3ad88c40c

I don't do charities over the phone, regardless if they say they are Rural Fire Brigade, etc.
Anyone rings about internet, gas, electricity - I just tell them I live in the bush Aborigine style and don't need all that rubbish.

John Smith wrote on May 10^th, 2023 at 7:18am:

UnSubRocky wrote on May 7th, 2023 at 4:56pm: I got my third or fourth NBN helpdesk call about my internet speed, the other day. I just tell them "no thanks" and disengage the call. Then I report them to scamwatch. I get them call about my home internet connection ... I don't even have the nbn at home :D :D :D :D :D

Other people tell me their stories about these NBN scammers. They just tell them that they do not have a computer. The caller then just hangs up in disgust.

I wonder if the Indians still have stereotypes about Australians being technologically backward. Maybe us Aussies taking the piss out of Indians have given Indians this kind of impression.

Bias_2012 wrote on May 10^th, 2023 at 9:40am:

Off topic that one

No, it really isn't.

Bias_2012 wrote on May 7^th, 2023 at 1:35pm:

Two more scam emails sent to my computer Your payment is due Hi (email address) Our third attempt to charge your payment method has failed. Your account might be at risk of cancellation. Previous charge attempted on 04-May-2023 00:22:47 Due since 01-Apr-2023 Please complete your payment as soon as possible for continued service. Click here to update your payment method If you have questions about this payment or your subscription, please visit our extensive Help Center to find answers and to get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you. Kind regards, The (internet provider) Team This scammer has an extensive Help Center ............ to empty your bank account Australia Post                          Package Stuck In transit It's on its way    Incorrect Address From Australia Post Online Shop Tracking number LZ9251301235AU Expected  Friday,  05 May 2023  - Saturday 06 May 2023 Your package with the tracking number is being held at the local post office, and we are waiting for your authorization to redeliver it. Please provide your correct shipping address and pay the additional delivery fee to complete the delivery process ($3.00) Click here to initiate the redelivery process.       Schedule Delivery No such tracking number ..... I put it through Aust Post's Tracking .... no show

That's been flooding the market lately and it's an obvious scam. Australia Post doesn't do redelivery. You pay for one attempted delivery, then it goes to the post office.

Received a scam SMS the other day:

"Dad - I accidentally dropped my phone down the loo, so it's broken.  I'm using an old one - let me know if you got this message".

The use of the word "loo" was interesting.

Needless to say, I didn't respond.

"I broke my main phone. Now, I am using a spare to let you know this". Pointless text.

UnSubRocky wrote on May 13^th, 2023 at 1:23pm:

"I broke my main phone. Now, I am using a spare to let you know this". Pointless text.

I suppose that if I replied the next SMS would be: "Dad - can you lend me $1,000 to get a new phone?  These are the details of my new bank account ...".

An obvious one


Australia Government

myGovID

Your Refund is ready.

Our transaction management system detects that you are entitled to receive this payment. Your refund is available online : 688.64 AUD

Continue signup
This link will expire 1 days from the date sent.


This email address was used to create a myGov account.

This email was sent by MyGov, 111 Bourke Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000. If you have any concerns, or don't think you should have received this email, please call us on 13 13 18.

How Aussie was swindled out of nearly $300,000 in sophisticated romance scam

By 9News Staff
9:45am May 26, 2023

Nigerian romance scam ... who would have guessed? Not this guy, and he lost big time


https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-man-paul-reed-targeted-in-sophisticated-romance-scam/5c14343e-8ea8-4c99-9287-c9d4a7940d81

A few checks would have revealed the scam, as it was, cops were knocking on his door, thought he was a money mule

Bias_2012 wrote on May 16^th, 2023 at 6:00pm:

An obvious one Australia Government myGovID Your Refund is ready. Our transaction management system detects that you are entitled to receive this payment. Your refund is available online : 688.64 AUD Continue signup This link will expire 1 days from the date sent. This email address was used to create a myGov account. This email was sent by MyGov, 111 Bourke Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000. If you have any concerns, or don't think you should have received this email, please call us on 13 13 18.

Yes I get that email and think… really? I get a refund… yeah that’ll be the day!  ;D

Bias_2012 wrote on May 29^th, 2023 at 12:09am:

How Aussie was swindled out of nearly $300,000 in sophisticated romance scam By 9News Staff 9:45am May 26, 2023 Nigerian romance scam ... who would have guessed? Not this guy, and he lost big time https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-man-paul-reed-targeted-in-sophisticated-romance-scam/5c14343e-8ea8-4c99-9287-c9d4a7940d81 A few checks would have revealed the scam, as it was, cops were knocking on his door, thought he was a money mule

It’s so annoying to hear about these scams still conning folk here in Oz …. all the media and internet coverage and warnings about it and yet, still people fall for it… if it’s too good to be true… it is!!!!

A fool and their money are soon parted!

This guy does some excellent work with filthy scammers:

https://youtu.be/OedLzIVPMPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aUIUhhuIbs

greggerypeccary wrote on May 29^th, 2023 at 1:11pm:

This guy does some excellent work with filthy scammers: https://youtu.be/OedLzIVPMPo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aUIUhhuIbs

Oh that was so freakin good … so satisfying to watch! What a hero! Made my day seeing these vids, thanks for sharing.

Sophia wrote on May 29^th, 2023 at 2:49pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on May 29th, 2023 at 1:11pm: This guy does some excellent work with filthy scammers: https://youtu.be/OedLzIVPMPo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aUIUhhuIbs Oh that was so freakin good … so satisfying to watch! What a hero! Made my day seeing these vids, thanks for sharing.

No problem.

He has hundreds of excellent videos.

It's nice to see people doing good work like that.

https://www.youtube.com/@ScammerPayback/videos

Great-grandmother loses almost $500k to false AFP scam

By A Current Affair Staff|3 hours ago

"A 91-year-old Queensland widow who thought she was helping police track down a scammer ended up losing almost $500,000 when it turned out she was the one being duped."

https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-greatgrandmother-loses-almost-500k-to-false-afp-scam/38808582-68c1-475a-9729-aa2bfab78ed8

No computer involved in this one, it was all done by phone over a period of 10 months - can't believe it!

Bias_2012 wrote on May 30^th, 2023 at 10:24pm:

Great-grandmother loses almost $500k to false AFP scam By A Current Affair Staff|3 hours ago "A 91-year-old Queensland widow who thought she was helping police track down a scammer ended up losing almost $500,000 when it turned out she was the one being duped." https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-greatgrandmother-loses-almost-500k-to-false-afp-scam/38808582-68c1-475a-9729-aa2bfab78ed8 No computer involved in this one, it was all done by phone over a period of 10 months - can't believe it!

I watched that story and yes… she went in often to a said bank making many big transactions… and the bank checked nothing? No queries etc? Half million dollars and you’d think someone at the bank headquarters wouldn’t at least opened eyes in wide amazement … if they cared to notice …

Sophia wrote on Jun 1^st, 2023 at 10:12pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on May 30th, 2023 at 10:24pm: ... "A 91-year-old Queensland widow who thought she was helping police track down a scammer ended up losing almost $500,000 when it turned out she was the one being duped." https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-greatgrandmother-loses-almost-500k-to-false-afp-scam/38808582-68c1-475a-9729-aa2bfab78ed8 No computer involved in this one, it was all done by phone over a period of 10 months - can't believe it! I watched that story and yes… she went in often to a said bank making many big transactions… and the bank checked nothing? No queries etc? Half million dollars and you’d think someone at the bank headquarters wouldn’t at least opened eyes in wide amazement … if they cared to notice …

I guess as she'd made the deposits over a period of ten months,
none of the bank's red flags were triggered;  it may've been three
or four transactions each month of much smaller amounts.

And there's not necessarily any human involvement in bank
transactions—it's all largely done electronically unless a specific
audit has been ordered on an account.  Which means it's difficult
to solely "blame" the bank in question.

At age 91, I'd also suspect an element of dementia with this
woman, exacerbating the situation, as well as her not telling her
son—who by rights should've been looking after her finances,
just as I monitored my 95-year-old father's bank savings accounts
and term deposits.

I checked out the site Bias_2012 linked to...

https://www.9news.com.au/national/scams-in-australia-hackers-online-email-texts-targeting-innocent-people-in-pictures/eaf2016c-b71f-42d5-ab20-c5ce51880b04

... I've not once received any of those particular messages,
nor any others even similar to them.  I'm very aware of
scammers and hackers and phishers, and take appropriate
precautions.    It's not rocket surgery!

I also think—as an often, allegedly IT incompetent(!) baby
boomer—that you'd have to be cognitively deficient to fall for
any of those oh-so-obvious scams.

Although I'm guessing there could be a few dummies on this
forum, maybe like Sir Lastnail, who'd fall for them.  People
who suck up conspiracy theories like a sponge are ideal targets
for scammers, as their due diligence amounts to non-existent.

    :D

New Scam about.

It's called Jovial Monk.

Sophia wrote on Jun 1^st, 2023 at 10:12pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on May 30th, 2023 at 10:24pm: Great-grandmother loses almost $500k to false AFP scam By A Current Affair Staff|3 hours ago "A 91-year-old Queensland widow who thought she was helping police track down a scammer ended up losing almost $500,000 when it turned out she was the one being duped." https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-greatgrandmother-loses-almost-500k-to-false-afp-scam/38808582-68c1-475a-9729-aa2bfab78ed8 No computer involved in this one, it was all done by phone over a period of 10 months - can't believe it! I watched that story and yes… she went in often to a said bank making many big transactions… and the bank checked nothing? No queries etc? Half million dollars and you’d think someone at the bank headquarters wouldn’t at least opened eyes in wide amazement … if they cared to notice …

She was asked if she thought she was being scammed, but she wouldn't say anything because the scammer, pretending to be AFP, told her to keep her mouth shut, that it was a secret operation to catch some thieves stealing money from bank customers

The scammers were pretending to catch other scammers - pretty nifty hey? I could imagine how that would work on a lot of unsuspecting oldies who were brought up to respect authority

The thing is, banks don't stick their nose into customers' affairs, that's not their job, they just take deposits, lend money, and collect interest

What we need is a special "Life Line", to call before submitting to the requests of strangers online or via telephone calls. Such a Life Line could be run and paid for by the banks, and overseen by State ministers for Consumer Affairs

Bias_2012 wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2023 at 10:19am:

... The thing is, banks don't stick their nose into customers' affairs, that's not their job, they just take deposits, lend money, and collect interest ...

Actually, I purchased some specialist tools from a retailer in the US a few years ago ( a retailer I had never dealt with before) and as soon as the credit card transaction was complete I received a phone call from my bank's security team asking me if it was actually me who had made the purchase.

I was quite impressed.

greggerypeccary wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2023 at 10:39am:

Bias_2012 wrote on Jun 2nd, 2023 at 10:19am: ... The thing is, banks don't stick their nose into customers' affairs, that's not their job, they just take deposits, lend money, and collect interest ... Actually, I purchased some specialist tools from a retailer in the US a few years ago ( a retailer I had never dealt with before) and as soon as the credit card transaction was complete I received a phone call from my bank's security team asking me if it was actually me who had made the purchase. I was quite impressed.

Same here!
It was a Sunday afternoon I got a call from Credit Card Police noticing a small suspicious transaction with eBay not in my usual purchases.
I was stunned! I asked “credit card police? On a Sunday?” And they said they check 7 days a week.
I told them it wasn’t me that made that transaction so they refunded what was taken and cancelled my card.
Dang… I memorised those 16 numbers so well too  ;D
But this was long ago before I was with eBay.
I’m not certain they still call people anymore if suss transactions are taking place.

And I keep an eye on all transactions … (I get receipts for all transactions to check statement) when something was off a couple times, I phoned and reported it immediately…. I was refunded and again card was cancelled.

You know… I’m ever so wary/careful dammit. I even have my cards in a protective blocking sleeve so they can’t be skimmed.
I once tested my credit card while in the silver sleeve by swiping at a supermarket and it worked … card transaction didn’t register. Took card out of protective sleeve and then I paid for food.

As for buying online, I use pay pal so none of my bank or card details are shown.

I was thinking last night…. I’ve still got cheque books and I’ve heard our bank is doing away with cheque books.
Coming to think of it… look at what a cheque had on it….the bank we are with, our names, bsb and account number and our legit signature!

Just asking for trouble!

Savvy business owner issues scam warning after being tricked

By A Current Affair Staff

Lost $222,000 in thirteen minutes

The bank can't help him because he sent a passcode to the scammer

https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/australia-marketing-business-owner-scam-warning/7e6eb24f-49ca-4ae3-9b7f-09d0166989c5

Here's an email from "PayPal". It came two minutes after I received the official PayPal "You authorised a payment" email

I've never received one like this from PayPal before and I don't care who it's from, I'll delete it

I've removed all private details and made notes in brackets. If you receive one like it after you've received the official one from PayPal, get rid of it, you don't need two, you only need one, the official one

At first glance this email looked authentic, it could fool the unwary, but it's very likely a scam email


(My name)
PayPal
Your payment was processed
You sent a payment of $X AUD on 24 June 2023 (wrong time was here) PM AEST to eBay Commerce Inc. (https://eBay.com/help).
This email may be one of many notifications you receive as your seller fulfills your order.
Payment details
Merchant:      eBay Commerce Inc.
Date: 24 June 2023 (wrong transaction time was here) PM AEST
Transaction ID:      (The number that was here was different to the official PayPal transaction number)
Authorisation Amount:      $X AUD
Payment Amount:      $X AUD
Payment By:      (my email address)
Payment methods used (total)
If you have questions regarding this transaction, please contact the merchant.
Business information
Business:      eBay Commerce Inc.
Contact E-Mail:      https://eBay.com/help
Your monthly account statement is available at any time – just sign in to your account. To correct any errors, please visit our Help Centre.
PayPal

Got this today

Linkt reminder. . .$6.95 toll will go overdue [today.]

gave a link LLINK. .  Double L (url was in lower case.)


I suppose some people might just pay it, small, be overdue tomorrow etc. Scammers could then empty your bank account I suppose?

From 60 Minutes

Should Australian banks reimburse scam victims?

Next year all UK banks will be required to reimburse customers who have been tricked into sending money to scammers.

https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/banking-scam-victims-aussie-banks-still-not-reimbursing-fraud-victims/0bd47b18-be44-46e9-9c1d-f4716a982c65

Australian banks are likely to follow this lead. No doubt there'll be terms and conditions and onus of proof being a burden on the victim. $3 Billion was lost in the last financial year to scammers


Here's an email I received this morning, again all private info has been deleted, with notes in brackets. The highlighted text is the sort of BS that I look for that doesn't make sense. My email address is the only one I've got and it's being used all the time

Hello ,
We’ve noticed there may be an unused email address, (my email address), on your (my internet provider) account.
To reduce the number of unused email services, we plan to close this email address on 07/07/2023 unless you ask us to keep it. Closure of the email address will delete the emails stored on it.
Important: Your internet access and Toolbox login details will not be affected by this change.
To keep this email address and the emails stored on it, please confirm using this button:

Keep email address

If you don’t want to keep the email address:
You don’t need to do anything and the email address will be automatically closed from 07/07/2023.
You will no longer be able to send or receive emails using (my email address)
Any email forwarding to or from (my email address) will stop.
You won’t be able to access any existing emails for (fake email address that looks like mine, just something added to the end of it) on the mail server.
Any emails sent to (my email address)will bounce back to the sender as undeliverable.

Kind regards,
The (my internet provider) Team


The obvious thing for me to do is simply call my internet provider and ask if the email is one of theirs, but I already know it's fake, so I'll just delete it

Quote:

From 60 Minutes Should Australian banks reimburse scam victims? Next year all UK banks will be required to reimburse customers who have been tricked into sending money to scammers.

Well wouldn’t that make banks more on the alert/watch/care factor scale if that were to come about!  ;D
Not like they don’t profit enough and can’t afford to look after us.
There’s a lot of elderly not savvy enough and even more educated types are being cleverly scammed.
While most of us still have our faculties and are aware and tread carefully, showing distrust at weird emails/phone texts, many have not … they need protecting.
Banks can afford to and should send literature to every household to warn types of scams, with case stories.
Are we in Australia, doing enough to educate and reach the masses to outsmart the scammers?

If banks are going to force all their customers to go electronic (which they are in the process of doing), then the banks should be liable.

Go into an anz now and you can't withdraw cash, unless it's from a ATM. What a load of bollocks

Sophia wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2023 at 1:34pm:

Quote: From 60 Minutes Should Australian banks reimburse scam victims? Next year all UK banks will be required to reimburse customers who have been tricked into sending money to scammers. Well wouldn’t that make banks more on the alert/watch/care factor scale if that were to come about!  ;D Not like they don’t profit enough and can’t afford to look after us. There’s a lot of elderly not savvy enough and even more educated types are being cleverly scammed. While most of us still have our faculties and are aware and tread carefully, showing distrust at weird emails/phone texts, many have not … they need protecting. Banks can afford to and should send literature to every household to warn types of scams, with case stories. Are we in Australia, doing enough to educate and reach the masses to outsmart the scammers?

Our banks have to hold a "bailout" reserve for crippling economic times to save the tax payers bailing them out

Now they'll have to hold a "scammed victims" reserve

But they still won't pay out if the victim was at fault ... the banks themselves must be at fault before they'll pay out

So give no one your password/s, pass code, or anything else, just ignore them, delete the email, hang up the phone and don't contemplate whether the email/call was genuine or not

John Smith wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2023 at 5:50pm:

If banks are going to force all their customers to go electronic (which they are in the process of doing), then the banks should be liable. Go into an anz now and you can't withdraw cash, unless it's from a ATM. What a load of bollocks

If the ATM is empty during business hours you can withdraw at the counter, pretty lousy if a bank doesn't let you do that

I've struck that a few times and was able to make a withdrawal at the counter

Bias_2012 wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2023 at 6:34pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 3rd, 2023 at 5:50pm: If banks are going to force all their customers to go electronic (which they are in the process of doing), then the banks should be liable. Go into an anz now and you can't withdraw cash, unless it's from a ATM. What a load of bollocks If the ATM is empty during business hours you can withdraw at the counter, pretty lousy if a bank doesn't let you do that I've struck that a few times and was able to make a withdrawal at the counter

Only in their older branches.  When I lived on the gold coast the local branch was one of the first in the country to roll out their new look moving forward. No tellers and no cash drawers anywhere, just a couple of ATM's and some desks where they sit you down if you want to apply for a loan or a new account.  Personally I think it's a disgrace.  ANZ doesn't care about private customers.  Their focus is on loans and business customers.  They even refuse to sign up with Australia post whereas most other banks in the country have.They just don't care about their customers.

John Smith wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2023 at 7:56pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Jul 3rd, 2023 at 6:34pm: John Smith wrote on Jul 3rd, 2023 at 5:50pm: If banks are going to force all their customers to go electronic (which they are in the process of doing), then the banks should be liable. Go into an anz now and you can't withdraw cash, unless it's from a ATM. What a load of bollocks If the ATM is empty during business hours you can withdraw at the counter, pretty lousy if a bank doesn't let you do that I've struck that a few times and was able to make a withdrawal at the counter Only in their older branches.  When I lived on the gold coast the local branch was one of the first in the country to roll out their new look moving forward. No tellers and no cash drawers anywhere, just a couple of ATM's and some desks where they sit you down if you want to apply for a loan or a new account.  Personally I think it's a disgrace.  ANZ doesn't care about private customers.  Their focus is on loans and business customers.  They even refuse to sign up with Australia post whereas most other banks in the country have.They just don't care about their customers.

I too am with ANZ since I was a teenager with a little savings passport type booklet.
I’ve noticed in this last decade how it’s gone from us feeling like we were known, and welcomed with smiles and the bank manager, she was fantastic. I loved and knew all the tellers by name.
It was always a joy to go into the bank.
It’s all changed… they changed location and tellers… only one or two of them and there’s little rooms with desks for loan application or whatever.

I’ve gone from feeling like a local known somebody to now a stranger, a nobody.

How sad.

It’s gotten to a point I avoid the cold sterile place.

If I need cash I go to any ATM and some don’t charge that $2.50 transaction fee either.
Or go to a supermarket, buy a couple things and get cash out.

In a way, I’ve realised how I embraced cashless spending decades ago as I used the credit card for everything and get rewards points for it too! I’ve claimed thousands of dollars back in points.
Too often my card was hacked and I have to get new one sent.
Since it’s tap and go or with a pin … I’ve not had so much problem.
Online I prefer to pay with PayPal so none know my bank card details.
Remember how we used to use cheques? Had everything on there, our names, account number and our signature! I’ve heard they are doing away with cheque books soon.

I do like using a little cash for some things though.

and further to my earlier point about the ANZ .. this appeared in todays newsfeed


Quote:

A frustrated ANZ customer has closed her bank account on the spot after being told by staff that she couldn’t withdraw her money because they are a ‘cashless’ branch.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/anz-customer-closes-account-told-she-cant-withdraw-cash-054001139.html

Here's an easy one for me, I'm not a customer of the Commonwealth bank

If you get one, delete it



https://image.edm.cba.com.au/lib/fe9313727563077e73/m/7/DIG2254_Header.jpg

Dear Valued Customer,

We have recently updated our online banking terms and conditions to provide you with enhanced security features and improved functionality.

To continue accessing your account, please review and accept the new terms by clicking on the link below:

Confirm Your Account


Please note that failure to accept the new terms within 72 hours may result in the suspension of your online banking access.

Thank you for being a valued customer.



Yours sincerely,
The CommBank Team

The indians have stopped calling me. I wonder if it is because I connected them to a sandboxed computer with password folder containing various viruses ?

I don't think I have ever before been told by an India customer service consultant named Paul to G! and get F#@&#d before.

Does anyone know if Paul is a common Indian name ?

Dnarever wrote on Jul 5^th, 2023 at 8:07pm:

The indians have stopped calling me. I wonder if it is because I connected them to a sandboxed computer with password folder containing various viruses ? I don't think I have ever before been told by an India customer service consultant named Paul to G! and get F#@&#d before. Does anyone know if Paul is a common Indian name ?

You simply haven't been trying enough.  I've had 'fruck you mother fkkr at least a half a dozen times just in the last 12 months

John Smith wrote on Jul 5^th, 2023 at 10:37pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jul 5th, 2023 at 8:07pm: The indians have stopped calling me. I wonder if it is because I connected them to a sandboxed computer with password folder containing various viruses ? I don't think I have ever before been told by an India customer service consultant named Paul to G! and get F#@&#d before. Does anyone know if Paul is a common Indian name ? You simply haven't been trying enough.  I've had 'fruck you mother fkkr at least a half a dozen times just in the last 12 months

I was always very polite I think it was when his computer stopped working that he got upset.

There is another one that keeps calling that thinks I have a different name and am in a different state.

This "eBay" email looked so convincing I nearly clicked on it. It had all the coloured icons and panels etc, but I became suspicious because some things weren't quite right

Right at the top, it had my name instead of my email address. Ebay always uses my email address

If you get one, don't worry about who it's from, just delete it

eBay
(my first name), we're here for you
Thank you for shopping with us. Our team is available to support you. If you have any questions or want to talk about your experience—we’re here to help.
Talk to us

Your recent purchase
(the item)
$(the price)
eBay Money Back Guarantee
Get your item you ordered or your money back.*
Learn more
parcel icon
Returns
made simple
Not happy with your purchase?
Send it back.**
Start a return
*T&Cs apply. **Check item listing for details on the seller’s return policy.
Is this email helpful?
tick icon
x icon
eBay Logo
Learn about account protection.
If you have a question, contact us.
eBay Commerce Australia Pty Ltd. Level 18, 1 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia (should be "eBay Marketplaces GmbH, Helvetiastrasse 15/17, 3005 Bern, Switzerland")
© 1995-2023 eBay Inc. or its affiliates ("eBay Marketplaces GmbH, Helvetiastrasse 15/17, 3005 Bern, Switzerland" usually goes here)

Dnarever wrote on Jul 5^th, 2023 at 8:07pm:

The indians have stopped calling me. I wonder if it is because I connected them to a sandboxed computer with password folder containing various viruses ? I don't think I have ever before been told by an India customer service consultant named Paul to G! and get F#@&#d before. Does anyone know if Paul is a common Indian name ?

I had an Indian call me yesterday.

When I answered, he said: "Hello, this is network support.  You're talking to Justin - how may I help you today?"

Justin?  Really?   ::)

And he called me, I didn't call him   ;)

Scumbag scammers   >:(

I hung up immediately, of course.

Now this concerned me… the PCYC (police youth club have raffles to win cars etc)
So I’m always one to buy from their web site so, one can imagine my surprise when I received a phone call out of the blue, a very polite gent with a slight accent, asking if I wish to purchase some raffle tickets for the PCYC…. before he could tell me the prizes I politely yet firmly said
“If you think I am going to purchase anything from a phone call, you will be mistaken because I wont give any details to a random caller”
He said he understands and said I can purchase tickets from the website.

I’m just so astounded and it just now occurred to me I need to phone the PCYC to see if they do have legit phone callers ….
I’ve not had any calls for raffle tickets in years. So I was taken back by this… as you could imagine in this day and age of scams and people getting fleeced of their life’s savings!

OMFG! I nearly got scammed out of $500!

I put up a vintage item for sale, this person wants to do PAYID

He almost had me!
The emails etc
Supposed from payid and my bank is not taking phone calls for me to check.
This dude says to respond to payid email
And it was a Gmail account.
He says he paid in $450 and showed up a receipt. But as it’s “business” he had to pay $500 extra to upgrade mine to business do I could get money into my account but he wanted to trust me to pay back his $500

Well I says since you’re coming in morning to pick it up… I will deal with you face to face.
I sent him info I found online about how payid contacts through the bank and not from payid themselves.
He was urging Mehta give him the $500 back and thought he could trust me etc.
I said I’m contacting bank in morning and have patience as he says his wife is picking it up in morning I said it will be sorted then.
I sent him screen shots of how with payid it’s through the bank and should be in bank immediately.
Well nothing doing.
He even said I don’t need to contact my bank.
All the red flags started waving at me!
After I said how odd payid has a gmail address and once I sent screen shots … he’s gone all quiet.

Very clever scam and nearly got me.
I cannot wait to talk to bank in morning!
Will let you know what they say.
Honestly I feel sick I nearly fell for it but lucky I didn’t.

See this BS… email all looked legit. But the frustrations led me to resist…
I asked why not just take $450 out of atm in morning!
He never replied to that just kept shoving this bs in my face.

---

Wise decision Sophia.  It was so obviously a scam
from the get-go.

Please don't respond in future to any of these scammers,
as there's every likelihood they're on-selling your email
address to other scammers.

If you must reply to them (for some reason?) then
please use a 'throw away' email address.

You might like to check out this anti-scammer site:

   Anti Fraud News.

And you can report this scammer to the Australian
government Scamwatch site here:

   National Anti-Scam Centre.

AusGeoff wrote on Sep 14^th, 2023 at 9:39pm:

Wise decision Sophia.  It was so obviously a scam from the get-go. Please don't respond in future to any of these scammers, as there's every likelihood they're on-selling your email address to other scammers. If you must reply to them (for some reason?) then please use a 'throw away' email address. You might like to check out this anti-scammer site:    Anti Fraud News. And you can report this scammer to the Australian government Scamwatch site here:    National Anti-Scam Centre.

Thank Geoff. I still feel sick in stomach this twerp used up my time that I won’t ever get back… but at least it’s not money …. as for emails… I hardly bother with them anymore.
I delete so many of them and many go unread.
This scammer that almost got me was on Facebook marketplace.
The profile looked genuine then I realised later it’s probably a stolen ID.
My son keeps telling me when I advertise something to put cash on pick up only.
I keep forgetting to put that as I concentrate on photos, description, measurement and price.
I won’t forget anymore!!! >:(

greggerypeccary wrote on Jul 21^st, 2023 at 1:28pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jul 5th, 2023 at 8:07pm: The indians have stopped calling me. I wonder if it is because I connected them to a sandboxed computer with password folder containing various viruses ? I don't think I have ever before been told by an India customer service consultant named Paul to G! and get F#@&#d before. Does anyone know if Paul is a common Indian name ? I had an Indian call me yesterday. When I answered, he said: "Hello, this is network support.  You're talking to Justin - how may I help you today?" Justin?  Really?   ::) And he called me, I didn't call him   ;) Scumbag scammers   >:( I hung up immediately, of course.

Quote:

I hung up immediately, of course.

If I am not busy I sometimes talk to them for as long as they will stay on the line. They are working a shift and the more time they waste talking to me the less time they have to scam someone who may be vulneralble.

I’ve had to take some harsh refusals and stipulate it’s cash on pick up and no PAYId thanks! And genuine buyers to forewarn their phone number.

Then I get this one…. ::)

Okay very good I am interested , but currently I am unavailable due to work so I would like to make payment via FedEx delivery service so that they send a delivery person to collect the item and then the delivery person will pay you in cash on the spot before they take the item away, does this work?

This (above) is a common scam.

The scammer, of course, doesn't even want your
item;  it's all about the money.

If you were to accept their offer to purchase, they'd
then follow up with a request to pay an allegedly
refundable "insurance" fee or "processing" fee of
maybe $200 to FedEx.

They construct a bogus web page that for all intents
and purposes mimics a genuine FedEx site, with a
payment input form that's linked to their own bank
account (rather than FedEx).

To delay any followup on your part, they'll often send
another email claiming that FedEx has experienced
delays in their courier pickup service, of maybe three
or four days.  This explains, at least initially, why you
don't see the FedEx pickup courier—as you expect.


Bear in mind that these scammers contact thousands
of targets every day, so that $200 fee can certainly
mount up—even if only 10% of targets respond.

Family loses $288k to kidnapping scam targeting international students in NSW


"One incident cost a family $288,000 after they sent money to a bank account in China as a ransom payment.
They believed a 23-year-old family member had been kidnapped in Sydney and contacted NSW Police after sending the money.
NSW Police located the woman on Hunter Street in Sydney."

https://www.9news.com.au/national/kidnapping-scam-family-loses-288k-to-kidnapping-scam-targetting-international-students-in-nsw/a6c035ee-7d09-4f50-bbc1-c9010754997b

The family only needed to keep calling her to see if she was home. Eventually she would have answered and said: "Kidnapped?, not me, what are you talking about?

My latest ones which are so Suss…yet very clever….
I had a parcel coming from a certain company… I knew that… I get a text to confirm if no one home they will leave in a safe spot. I’ve been getting updates of dispatch and delivery all along.
A while later I get a text from an unknown source saying just click the link to leave parcel in safe spot/no reply.
I couldn’t believe the coincidence.
I will never click on any link on my phone from random text.
I did once on my desk top computer a few short years ago and it got crypto locked!

And… today also…. hubby’s phone rings as we are driving, he gives it to me to answer and it was some Chinese sounding automated voice. I hung up.
Geez they’re all hot to trot today!

I have been talking to one group for about 7 years that think I am Frank from South Australia.

Well here’s a new one!
I received a text from Qantas.
Saying Hello. Here’s your boarding pass for your upcoming flight to Perth.  ;D  ::)

Dnarever wrote on Oct 19^th, 2023 at 5:31pm:

I have been talking to one group for about 7 years they think I am Frank from South Australia.

correction

I had the startrack failed delivery scam today.

Perth family lose $32,000 to phone scam


https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-family-robbed-of-32-000-dollars-after-phone-scam/2bcb50f8-e6d7-4ec7-be39-c934e5b0f0a1


They should have just hung up the phone ... but they kept going, and kept going until $32K was gone

Another oldie loses half a million dollars

"A Queensland man has lost $500,000 of his retirement savings after he fell victim to a "sophisticated and socially engineered" investment scam."

https://www.9news.com.au/national/scams-australia-queensland-man-loses-500k-retirement-savings-to-investment-scam/0ee978a5-6874-4dab-b517-d6ca5da3bc98


He clicked on an investment firm on Facebook tsk tsk

"He is unable to get his funds back because he made a payment after he was warned it could be a scam, by authorities."

Wow, HUGE loss!

Melbourne Age Care worker loses $40,000 to hackers


"cyber criminals hacked into her ING account's payee contact list and changed the bank details of one of her contacts to a different account."


https://www.9news.com.au/national/ing-scam-melbourne-woman-loses-40k-in-retirement-savings/b32b13f0-ea5f-4698-955f-6bc28e2b08ba


The banking system is not very safe these day, is it?

Guy with a degree in cyber security loses $150,000 to scammers

"An IT worker is struggling to comprehend how he lost $150,000 of his, and his parents', life savings to a manipulative job scam that fooled him into thinking he was working and earning an income."

https://www.9news.com.au/national/job-ad-scam-it-worker-loses-150k/9486e365-d56c-4855-bdd0-9fe640ae3aae

Like some other victims in other cases, he was warned this could be a scam, but kept sending money, and became ineligible for help in recovering his losses

Got up at 6:15am (half an hour ago) and checked my mobile phone.

A text message was sent to me from a mobile number at 2:36am which said:

"Overdue bill - pay now or else!

;D ;D ;D

I can't imagine any genuine company sending a message worded like that, can you?

I deleted it but I'm sure if I'd tapped on it there would have been a 'helpful' link provided which would no doubt have taken me to the scammer's website where they would want me to provide bank details or a credit/debit card number.

"pay now or else!"

Or else what?  ;D ;D ;D

Carl D wrote on Nov 19^th, 2023 at 8:51am:

Or else what?

Or else they'll send you another email telling you to pay up or else

Another Big Scam was the ALP siphoning Public Tax to pay $400+ million dollars to the Media for some "Yes" vote. ::)

Jasin wrote on Nov 19^th, 2023 at 11:18am:

Another Big Scam was the ALP siphoning Public Tax to pay $400+ million dollars to the Media for some "Yes" vote. ::)

John Useless Howard spent a LOT more than that trying to get WorstChoices past and so helping his relection chances in 2007. Was he actually just rewarding Merdeoch for helping him stay in power?

Learn what to look for in what look like very genuine emails. If you have the slightest doubt, delete it. Don't click on any attachments

The NSW logo is a screen shot

I'm suspicious about Service NSW sending an email on behalf of Revenue NSW

There is not one hint as to what the attached "document" is all about. Why is it a secret? I won't be clicking on it to find out



NSW Government logo ..... (correct red and blue icon, no worries, except it's a bit fuzzy AKA a screen shot. I checked against genuine NSW Service logos which are clearer and sharper)

(My name)


Please find attached your document from Revenue NSW.


This is an automated email. If you have any further questions or would like to access our online services, please visit revenue.nsw.gov.au or call Revenue NSW on 1300 655 805 to speak with someone.


Yours sincerely
Service NSW on behalf of Revenue NSW

______________________________________________________

Revenue NSW and Service NSW are working together to make it easier for you to do business with us. Documents from Revenue NSW will now be sent on our behalf by Service NSW. If you would like to change your email notification preferences call Revenue NSW on 1300 655 805.

How to know that an email is not a scam:

Check that any future emails are sent from an email address that finishes with @service.nsw.gov.au or @revenue.nsw.gov.au
We won't ever ask you for sensitive information in an email.
If you think an email might be a scam call Revenue NSW on 1300 655 805 to check that you have been contacted and to notify them of a possible scam.
To find out about the latest scams go to staysmartonline.gov.au
Stay cyber safe
We'll never include a link asking you to log in directly from an email or SMS.

Your privacy
Our privacy statement explains how we handle your personal information https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/privacy-statement

Received this by mistake?
If this email was not meant for you, call 13 77 88 to let us know and then delete it.

Contact us
For help, go to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/contact-us

Do not reply to this email as the sender address cannot support replies.

This email was sent to you because you opted in to receive digital notifications.

Sent by Service NSW, 224 Rawson Place, Sydney, NSW 2000, on behalf of Revenue New South Wales.

__________________

(Attachment was here ready to click on, and it looked genuine, but there's no indication at all as to what it's about)

Quote:

Revenue NSW and Service NSW are working together to make it easier for you to do business with us. Documents from Revenue NSW will now be sent on our behalf by Service NSW. If you would like to change your email notification preferences call Revenue NSW on 1300 655 805.

This part appears to be correct.

You should be able to log into MyServiceNSW Account ( check for recent messages) and or link to Revenue NSW and confirm this is real or not. I would definitely not click on the link in the email.

Dnarever wrote on Nov 22^nd, 2023 at 1:32pm:

Quote: Revenue NSW and Service NSW are working together to make it easier for you to do business with us. Documents from Revenue NSW will now be sent on our behalf by Service NSW. If you would like to change your email notification preferences call Revenue NSW on 1300 655 805. This part appears to be correct. You should be able to log into MyServiceNSW Account ( check for recent messages) and or link to Revenue NSW and confirm this is real or not. I would definitely not click on the link in the email.

No there's nothing there in my account, so it's a fake email

The real giveaway is the screen shot of the NSW logo, it's softer than a dinky di NSW logo. It's also on the left side of the email, whereas the genuine one is always in the middle

Got a message on my iPhone

something about my linkt account?

Was a link to click (when isn’t there?  ;D ;D )

Link was liMk. . .

Do you think it sounds dodgy? LOL!

I got this type of call today. Was really pressing the case they’re from Telstra…
Like trying to convince me  :D
I kept saying “uh huh” or “I see”….
Wanted me to put my phone on speakerphone.
I said “That’s strange re: any issues, usually Telstra would email me”
Then the sound of crickets as the phone went dead  ;D

Anyway, same female voice/accent…

https://youtu.be/-WOcJlJfRNs?si=CHcLLF38lC-xamx7

Just hang up as soon as you hear an Indian voice

I rarely get these calls now, I guess it's because I've been hanging up within a second or two of receiving them

And since I've changed my email address and email provider, there's been no more scam emails, much to my relief - no more time wasting checking them out and sending them to "Trash"

I enjoy playing games with the Indian scam callers
to see how long I can keep them on the phone.  That
prevents them from making a few, or a lot more calls
to other people.

   My record is  ~20 minutes.    ;D

I have listened for a minute then asked the female caller if she was wearing any panties and started heavy breathing....she hung up  :-?

AusGeoff wrote on Dec 12^th, 2023 at 1:53pm:

I enjoy playing games with the Indian scam callers to see how long I can keep them on the phone.  That prevents them from making a few, or a lot more calls to other people.    My record is  ~20 minutes.    ;D

I used to do that too   :)

"Hang on, someone's at the door", then put the phone down and go do something else for a while.

Now I just don't answer any number I don't know.

I never ring a number in my “recents” that is just a number. I do tell people to leave a voicemail or a text.

I have rung a number, only to find it was a spoofed number.

Want me to respond—say who you are and what you want.

Haven't had an attempted scam call on my home phone for a few weeks now.

Until yesterday then the idiots have started again.

This is the phone call log from my Telstra modem... check out the stupid numbers they're using to try and call with.  ;D

No doubt it's the same scammers using different number combinations... but they all get blocked by my Telstra Call Guardian. The phone never rings but the phone and modem logs the attempted calls.

(The blacked out parts for "Local Number" is my own number of course).

---

I like when the scammers manager calls back to swear at you for wasting their time.

The last one was pretending to be from Telstra, I told him that was was going to report his bad language to Telstra.

I had one caller who claimed to be working in a Telstra building where I had once worked.

Woman loses $50,000 in bank scam

She kept going, and kept going, and lost all the money she'd saved

https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair

All she had to do was contact her bank and let them sort it out

That link previous is not right. I'll post another story exactly the same bank and everything, but different victims

https://7news.com.au/news/sydney-hsbc-bank-customer-devastated-after-being-scammed-out-of-50000-in-savings-after-seemingly-innocent-text--c-12794703

Superannuation is an easy target for Scammers
On the rise!
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/destructive-and-bizarre-superannuation-fraud-leaves-investors-with-no-retirement-savings/vi-AA1lBNQO?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=52facfa4cd014c3f9483bd0a04c545ef&ei=11

Got one yesterday

Apparently my delivery address is wrong.

I can go to auspost.us. . .  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Woman loses $5,000 ... all the money she had

Get this ... she was on the phone for SIX hours on the first day

"The scammer kept Coster on the phone for six hours on the first day, "haranguing and harassing her", Thomson said.
He then called back multiple times over several days before Coster finally gave him the number and pin for her Bendigo Bank account.
When Coster checked her bank account on Saturday, her entire balance of $5000 was gone."

https://www.9news.com.au/national/scammer-steals-life-savings-of-victorian-woman-with-stagefour-breast-cancer/9adde8b6-069c-4700-821f-9fba955479b4


People like her are allowed to vote

Two more people who are allowed to vote


Bank teller saves couple from losing life savings to scam


Bank teller plugged away, and plugged away, trying to convince couple they were about to lose their $80,000 to scammers, they weren't convinced

You can't believe it can you?


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/couples-life-savings-rescued-from-scammers-by-bank-teller/3e3ff2bc-095d-42eb-91ea-fad554ee533c

She's a real Hero. Good on her for going out of her way, for making a positive effort for NAB and for saving that couple's future.
Now, if only she could have stopped Penny Wong from siphoning $20 million from us Taxpayers - for the HAMAS Terrorism cause.

Jovial Monk wrote on Jan 21^st, 2024 at 6:06am:

Got one yesterday Apparently my delivery address is wrong. I can go to auspost.us. . .  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Now auspost has a .au address, auspostS.blah.blah.blah


Guess with the jump in online purchasing this is a logical field for scammers.

Elderly man fell for scam, loses $1,000,000 over three years. He thought he was going to get $20,000,000 in gold bars


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/online-scam-heartless-scammers-use-apple-gift-cards-to-steal-1m-from-lonely-grandfather/356a046c-8847-4364-8324-703200611df7


If it sounds too good to be true ..........

Perth grandmother loses $320,000 in grandson's investment scheme

It was a "Ponzi" scheme

"He loved me, I loved him"

"she was warned by relatives to be wary"


https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-news-grandmother-lost-320000-after-investing-in-grandson-business-alleged-ponzi-scheme/e3ea6396-750c-452c-8e87-c0ef53d65ede


She loved him, so everything was going to be OK .... Geez, some people!

Good news

Another bank teller saves female customer from losing her house to fictitious boyfriend, in scam


"Westpac teller Marlena Karbowski knew something was wrong after a customer came into the Liverpool branch asking to cancel her home insurance, telling Karbowski she was planning on selling her home."

"Karbowski sensed something was wrong and invited the woman into her office."


https://www.9news.com.au/national/hero-bank-teller-saves-customer-from-losing-millions-on-scam/ff013f25-b391-43dd-9823-71d634267582


Her house mind you! ... she was going sell it to help out her online "boyfriend" she'd never met - Crazy woman

Perth grandmother scammed out of $10,000 over Facebook


"A grandmother from Perth's southern suburbs is sharing her "humiliating" story as a warning to others who use Facebook after she was scammed out of $10,000.

"Sally Marchant thought she was speaking to a friend just days before Christmas, but it was anything but.
The message from her Facebook friend - who had been hacked by AI - was too good to refuse"

The 59-year-old was asked to send $10,000 for a prize in return for $200,000."


https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-grandmother-scammed-out-of-10000-over-facebook/127ef9e0-a187-4c05-8fbe-b9ccdbe896ee


Another one bites the dust

Bias_2012 wrote on Mar 28^th, 2024 at 2:07pm:

Perth grandmother scammed out of $10,000 over Facebook "A grandmother from Perth's southern suburbs is sharing her "humiliating" story as a warning to others who use Facebook after she was scammed out of $10,000. "Sally Marchant thought she was speaking to a friend just days before Christmas, but it was anything but. The message from her Facebook friend - who had been hacked by AI - was too good to refuse" The 59-year-old was asked to send $10,000 for a prize in return for $200,000." https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-grandmother-scammed-out-of-10000-over-facebook/127ef9e0-a187-4c05-8fbe-b9ccdbe896ee Another one bites the dust

The scammers are absolute pricks, and I feel very sorry for that poor woman, but how can people be this stupid?   ::)

This link provides many scam notices that could catch you out. Click on the righthand side arrow to view them one at a time. If you get any, delete them

https://www.9news.com.au/national/scams-in-australia-hackers-online-email-texts-targeting-innocent-people-in-pictures/eaf2016c-b71f-42d5-ab20-c5ce51880b04

Australians lost an estimated $1 billion to card theft in past year alone

By Miriah Davis
4:59pm Apr 15, 2024


"In addition, of those scammed only 1 in 10 reported the incident while 1 per cent did nothing at all"

"A further 1 per cent had been a victim of bank card fraud, but didn't realise until later that it was a scam"


https://www.9news.com.au/national/australians-lost-almost-1-billion-to-card-scammers-in-past-year/3ee0cbff-4101-4643-b696-260a4b8e81d5


I thought card skimming had stopped, apparently not

I only use my debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM out front of the bank. I've never owned a credit card, I could never see the sense in having one. The interest you pay is your hard earned cash, why give it away?

I also check my online bank account regularly, with an eagle eye

I went in to see our accountant to drop off paperwork… it’s nice to have a yarn with him about finance etc
We were talking about how we spent what we had on property so that we had very little in bank… because we are too nervous to have money sitting in the bank nowadays.

He said one of their clients nearly lost $6 million  :o
I asked about how…. he said he will find out the particulars so I can ask when I go back in a couple weeks.
Christ on a bike how on earth do people nearly lose $6 million!
All eggs in one basket?
Some convincing ponzi investment?
We hear of many that are scammed but don’t hear much about the nearly scammed except for some stories where bank tellers save the day.

It’s frightening.
I’m constantly suspicious of buying online now…
Nearly got scammed of $500 before Xmas.
Trying fb market place out and then telling me to accept PAYID.
For some reason since then… I’ve had a dream run on fb marketplace with no scammers and all genuine buyers. Have fb cracked down on these scammers or something? Because I reckon a lot of people must’ve complained by the scores!

Funny though how I’m still getting toll link fine notices and failed postal deliver messages like at 2.30 am  ::) all I can do is continue to block and then delete the number.

Speaking of scams ...

I've been with RACV for Comprehensive Car Insurance and House and Contents Insurance for a very long time. More than 30 years.

This year, my Car insurance premium has gone up almost 33%  :o

No change in circumstances. The car is a 2017 Kia Cerato very low Kms no change to location, no claims made.

So ... I have finally had enough of paying the "loyalty tax" and I found APIA to be much cheaper (more than $300 less) and for agreed value $20,000 not market value $16,000 as it was with RACV.

I'll be dumping my Home and Contents Insurance with RACV too when it becomes due in May and moving that over to APIA too. Also cheaper and a higher value insured for the house and contents.  8-)

Stuff 'em.  >:(

Test your skill at spotting fake emails. This one I received today. What can you see that gives this one away?


(usual double "P" insignia here)PayPal

Your account update

Hi (Name)

Your account statement is ready. To review your activity simply log in to your PayPal account.

Check your account regularly and contact us if you identify any unauthorised transaction or issues in relation to your statement.

Thank you for using PayPal!

Retiree loses $411,000 to Facebook AI scam

He fell for it hook line and sinker ... never woke up until he tried to get some money out. Isn't it always the way?

Elon Musk was in the fake ad, and his voice was AI generated ... you can spot it a mile away


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair

Bias_2012 wrote on May 7^th, 2024 at 8:39pm:

Test your skill at spotting fake emails. This one I received today. What can you see that gives this one away? (usual double "P" insignia here)PayPal Your account update Hi (Name) Your account statement is ready. To review your activity simply log in to your PayPal account. Check your account regularly and contact us if you identify any unauthorised transaction or issues in relation to your statement. Thank you for using PayPal!

No takers?

The explanation mark at the very end after "PayPal" is the give-away ... The "Thank you for using PayPal" doesn't need to be explained

Australians getting better at recognising scams but false billing on the rise


This tour operator lost $80,000 to a false billing scam - he blames the banks ... don't they all

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-21/false-billing-scam-on-rise-australian-banks-powerless/103870850

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 28^th, 2024 at 2:09pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on Mar 28th, 2024 at 2:07pm: Perth grandmother scammed out of $10,000 over Facebook "A grandmother from Perth's southern suburbs is sharing her "humiliating" story as a warning to others who use Facebook after she was scammed out of $10,000. "Sally Marchant thought she was speaking to a friend just days before Christmas, but it was anything but. The message from her Facebook friend - who had been hacked by AI - was too good to refuse" The 59-year-old was asked to send $10,000 for a prize in return for $200,000." https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-grandmother-scammed-out-of-10000-over-facebook/127ef9e0-a187-4c05-8fbe-b9ccdbe896ee Another one bites the dust The scammers are absolute pricks, and I feel very sorry for that poor woman, but how can people be this stupid?   ::)

I got a similar one from one of my Facebook friends.  You have no way of knowing it's not your friend.  I only clued on because despite not seeing her for two years, she didn't ask how my wife and kids were. Instead kept telling me about some $20k grant the govt gave her and that i could apply for.  Normally that's the first thing she asks. I knew something wasn't cosher so I phoned my friend to ask if it was really her. It wasn't

AI is that good now scammers can record your voice and seem to be you on the phone. It is no longer safe to even talk to them.

Our ANZ bank in our busy locality is closing its doors next month!
This bank served a huge amount of people in and around many outer suburbs.
We often need face to face customer service, today was an example and many were in line waiting for the 2 tellers to serve them.

When I asked last week what the reason was for the closure, since ANZ make huge profits,
I’m told because everyone is going digital, and I said no, the big nobs are forcing us to go digital.
Our area have a lot of farmers, elderly and many are not internet savvy nor have a smart phone or computer.
When someone rang my husband for feedback, he told them it’s a mistake to close that branch, expecting everyone to go digital….what could possibly go wrong except scammers have a field day!
He told them he has an old Samsung flip phone for calls only, as for banking he prefers face to face customer support/help.

Anyway, a bank closing down but not for lack of customers and business there…. go figure.

And another thing… a furniture store I had put on order and paid for furniture….
I waited months and it was never ready… on order…. I decided I get a refund a couple weeks ago except I kept a couple bar stools on order (paid for)
And I’m now glad I got my previous $750 refund… whew … because, on Tuesday morning as we were leaving to go to Gippsland… I get a call from salesman to say store is closed if I want to get something from the store that day.
I said no I think I will have a refund instead… can’t do refund as store closed, someone from head office will contact me.

I did get an email for a credit note or refund less 20%
Far out.
I’m going to have to get a credit note… and find their store wherever … probably on other side of city!

I went to that store today, and some angry customers wrote all over the windows/doors.
Scam, ha ha you got our money etc

Well… let’s see what happens now… I will let you know if I get something for my money.
As if buying online was risky enough….
now….can’t friggin trust even shop fronts.

And….  here’s a letter from the bank stating overdraft facility will be removed and no longer available to anyone.
For umpteen years we’ve had $1000 overdraft as a safety net, interest paid in it too, but always repaid within a couple weeks.
It’s been great to have it, saved us heaps from hefty overdraft fines/fees.

Oh wait… that’s why…. now they can charge us hefty OD fees again!

More profits for them hey!

The services are getting minimalistic … going backwards ….

And I heard on the grapevine… there’s a huge drift going to Bendigo community bank….
The word “community” is where the magic of banking services are.

Oh I just realised I should’ve put that topic of bank stuff under a new topic about banks.

Oh dear … will I get my order or refund less 20%… yep I’m one of the many customers that put in orders months ago…

https://youtu.be/hZQEQ1CibNE?si=XujE7Yu8LBeFqQNj

Then, a couple weeks ago the store near me closed down quickly.
I went to look in but it was all dark and closed off.
I took a photo of what other angry customers scrawled on the shop front windows.

I had pre paid over $1,000 and recently before they closed … I went in to get a refund for $800 and left $220 because I still wanted the order for two seats.

Looks like I was lucky I got my $800 back… easier to accept $220 loss rather than $1020.
But see… people not just scammed on internet…. shop fronts too can do damage.

Such a pity as the store had some beautiful stuff.
Ashley’s is supposed to be a part of them but they don’t do the refunds on their behalf.

---

So this woman on news tonight had $250,000 go from her bank account.
Her calls were “spoofed” and even though she called the bank number shown on internet … being correct number… it somehow went to scammers… what the heck is phone spoofing and how do we know if our phone is affected????

Sophia wrote on Jun 8^th, 2024 at 9:58pm:

So this woman on news tonight had $250,000 go from her bank account. Her calls were “spoofed” and even though she called the bank number shown on internet … being correct number… it somehow went to scammers… what the heck is phone spoofing and how do we know if our phone is affected????

This one?

A Sunshine Coast couple have lost almost a quarter of a million dollars to a sophisticated scam that even got past professional bank tellers.

Kerry O'Mahony and Kerry Littlejohn were shopping around for the best interest rate on their term deposit when they came across one from ING Australia.

"I clicked on obtain a quote and within, I think, about a day or two of doing that we had a phone call from John Cook from ING," O'Mahony said.


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/couple-loses-life-savings-as-sophisticated-bank-scam-tricks-professional-bank-tellers/67f0e67d-6154-4a8f-873d-d29b1ffa8566


Their mistake was asking for a quote

They should have gone straight to ING's official website and got all the interest rates from there

Here's ING's website ....

https://www.ing.com.au/rates-and-fees/term-deposit-rates.html

They could have opened an account and done everything themselves

Bias_2012 wrote on Jun 8^th, 2024 at 10:38pm:

Sophia wrote on Jun 8th, 2024 at 9:58pm: So this woman on news tonight had $250,000 go from her bank account. Her calls were “spoofed” and even though she called the bank number shown on internet … being correct number… it somehow went to scammers… what the heck is phone spoofing and how do we know if our phone is affected???? This one? A Sunshine Coast couple have lost almost a quarter of a million dollars to a sophisticated scam that even got past professional bank tellers. Kerry O'Mahony and Kerry Littlejohn were shopping around for the best interest rate on their term deposit when they came across one from ING Australia. "I clicked on obtain a quote and within, I think, about a day or two of doing that we had a phone call from John Cook from ING," O'Mahony said. https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/couple-loses-life-savings-as-sophisticated-bank-scam-tricks-professional-bank-tellers/67f0e67d-6154-4a8f-873d-d29b1ffa8566 Their mistake was asking for a quote They should have gone straight to ING's official website and got all the interest rates from there Here's ING's website .... https://www.ing.com.au/rates-and-fees/term-deposit-rates.html They could have opened an account and done everything themselves

Yes! That’s the one!
But where exactly did they go wrong?
To have their phone call to ING spoofed?

Sophia wrote on Jun 9^th, 2024 at 11:30am:

But where exactly did they go wrong? To have their phone call to ING spoofed?

Right from the very start they were clicking on fake ING messages ... and they kept going until all their money was gone

How silly!

Those women are allowed to vote ... too bad for Australia if they were in charge of the Treasury


How much of this did they read? ... probably none

https://www.ing.com.au/security.html

Bias_2012 wrote on May 21^st, 2024 at 8:43pm:

Bias_2012 wrote on May 7th, 2024 at 8:39pm: Test your skill at spotting fake emails. This one I received today. What can you see that gives this one away? (usual double "P" insignia here)PayPal Your account update Hi (Name) Your account statement is ready. To review your activity simply log in to your PayPal account. Check your account regularly and contact us if you identify any unauthorised transaction or issues in relation to your statement. Thank you for using PayPal! No takers? The explanation mark at the very end after "PayPal" is the give-away ... The "Thank you for using PayPal" doesn't need to be explained

This looks fine actually. It is the exact same format that both my wife and I receive.

(Unless the links look weird when you hover over it?)

They do contain a very lengthy link destination. Mind you, I always login to PayPal via my usual login page rather than use the link in the email.

I am continually getting messages about my Coles account and my Amazon account. The problem being is that I don't have either. Even blocking the number is not helping.

Yes, I have been getting messages about 2000+ points at Coles. I have not shopped at Coles since moving here!

Anyone notice the people out there on facebook that want to give $5000 to the people who write back saying "Alive" or something like that? They want people to hand over their details so that they can drain their bank account.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jun 17^th, 2024 at 2:18pm:

Anyone notice the people out there on facebook that want to give $5000 to the people who write back saying "Alive" or something like that? They want people to hand over their details so that they can drain their bank account.

Just another reason why I'll never use Facebook.

NSW - Sydney


Here's a scam of a different kind

Sydney GP gets $24million from last minute change of will of dying patient ... Originally, it was meant for the Salvation Army

Bit suss! ... and it's not the first time he's benefited from a patient's will


https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/court-clears-sydney-doctor-who-inherited-90-per-cent-of-patients-multi-million-dollar-estate/041c158a-3203-468a-b0ee-0623537246ec


$24million ?? - I'm lost for words 

Bias_2012 wrote on Jun 17^th, 2024 at 9:14pm:

NSW - Sydney Here's a scam of a different kind Sydney GP gets $24million from last minute change of will of dying patient ... Originally, it was meant for the Salvation Army Bit suss! ... and it's not the first time he's benefited from a patient's will $24million ?? - I'm lost for words

Wow!  And it only took him 3 years!! 

What is wrong with the courts?