Have you ever been scammed online or via a phone call? It seems that at least 30 percent of New Zealanders have been victims of these con-artists. This was the first advice we received from Tanya Morton of TSB who presented information to a group of Age Concern Wellington Region volunteers on scams, scammers, avoiding their predations and methods of protecting your information.
Tanya advised on the common forms of scams that we should be aware of, which were:
- Receiving an unexpected contact form someone unknown – a phone call, email, or knock on the door
- Online contact from someone wanting to be your friend, assistant or special companion
- Contact from Microsoft, or some other computer company, offering help because your storage is full, and/or advising that they need to fix your computer remotely
- A call from the IRD, some other “official organisation” which you were not expecting, saying that you owe money, or that you are due to receive a big refund. Even someone posing as a representative of a charity asking for money can be fraudulent.
This list is not exhaustive; scammers have proved to be very versatile in creating new ways of getting through your defences, and they will go to great lengths to appear trustworthy.
It used to be that scam phone calls came from unknown overseas numbers, but now they show up as a New Zealand number. Similarly, texts and emails can now appear to be from someone in New Zealand, and the bad grammar of yesteryear has been improved. They can also suggest the need for urgent action or propose that you take action where the outcome appears too good to be true, which it usually is.
These days you must be very suspicious, even to the extent of appearing rude in some cases.
Stop, hang up or do not respond to the unexpected email/text; hit delete. Avoid using any contact details supplied but if you wish to check then look up and use the official contact details. Do not supply any sensitive information like passwords and do not click on any links in a dubious message.
The problem is that as technology develops so does the ingenuity of the schemes of these scammers.
It also pays to be aware of the possibility that friends or family members may be being scammed. The warning signs could be changes in spending patterns and cash transactions, changes in financial accounts to include unknown third parties, or changes in habits of friends who seem to be controlling.
If you think you have been scammed, do not feel embarrassed. Contact your bank immediately and explain the situation if you are a victim of a financial scam as they have policies to deal with fraudulent activities. See below for other helpful organisations.
Where to find more information about scams and help
Netsafe: https://netsafe.org.nz/our-work/helpline-services/scams-helpline 0508 638 723
Scamwatch: https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch 0508 426 678
More information in a linked article here (click here to read)…