Every year, thousands of Australians are targeted by scams, whether it be online, via phone, mail or even in person. Australian Community Media has compiled a list of current scams identified on sites such as scamwatch.gov.au and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s website dedicated to informing people about fraudulent and dishonest activities:

Have you been scammed?

Social Media Scams

Think before you click: Some scams take advantage of people’s natural curiosity, such as the ‘see who has viewed your profile’ scam.

• Research website Comparitech.com has warned of scams targeting social media users.
• The “See who’s viewed your profile”: takes advantage of the curiosity of Facebook users and might pop up as an ad while browsing the site. You’ll be prompted to download an app with the promise of being able to see who has viewed your profile. Facebook doesn’t actually give this information out, even to third-party applications. All you’re actually doing is handing over access to your Facebook account, including your personal details and possibly banking information.
• Fake celebrity news: involves a clickbait-style headline on Facebook relaying some fake celebrity news, such as the death of a well-known star or a new relationship in Hollywood. Once you click, you’re prompted to enter your Facebook credentials to view the article, thus giving criminals full access to your account.
• Impersonation scam: scammers create an exact replica of a user’s account. They can then reach out to your friends and family with friend or follow requests and once connected, pose as you.

Online shopping scams

Scammers post fake classified ads, auction listings, and run bogus websites. If you get caught by a scammer you will not only lose your money but will also never receive the item you were trying to purchase.

• Shoppers looking for Christmas gifts online should be cautious if the advertised…