Avoiding scams
Scams are fraudulent schemes that make money for their operators by deceiving the public. Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages and income groups. Some scams target the general public through phone calls, newspaper ads, emails or SMS messages, while others involve a personal approach from someone who is seen as a friend.
Because scams look legitimate, they can be hard to pick.
Examples of scams include:
- Investment opportunities with amazing returns
- Chain letters asking for money and claiming you will receive lots of money in return
- Miracle cures
- Competitions with fake prizes.
The government body Australian Competition and Consumer Commission advises that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Details of common scams are found on their site:
www.scamwatch.gov.au
The site also gives details about where to report different kinds of scams.
Other helpful sites:
http://www.consumersonline.gov.au
