Learn about scams

Scams can happen to anyone

Scams are a common way cybercriminals break into accounts. Being alert to suspicious messages can help protect you online. 

Scammers may target your work, school, or business accounts. They can scam you through emails, texts, phone calls or social media. 

Common tricks scammers use include: 

• Authority: They pretend to be from trusted places, like banks or government.
• Urgency: They tell you to act quickly or something bad will happen.
• Emotion: They try to make you feel scared, excited or curious.
• Scarcity: They offer deals that seem too good to be true.
• Current events: They use news or real events to make scams seem real.

This can make it hard to know whether you’re being scammed or not. 

Scams can happen to anyone, at any time. There are many types of scams, and new ones appear often. It is important to know about them so you can stay secure online.

Know how to spot the signs of a scam

This video explains how to recognise scams and protect yourself. 

Protect yourself from scams

Scams are becoming more advanced and harder to spot. If you’re unsure about a message, take a moment to check if it could be a scam.

Stop and check

• Go to a trusted source: Visit the official website, log in to your account, or call a verified phone number. Don’t use links or contact details in the message.
• Know what organisations will ask: Banks and government agencies will never ask for things like your password. If they do, it’s likely a scam.
• Look for warning signs:
  • messages marked 'unverified’
  • email addresses that look wrong or misspelled
  • messages that say ’Dear customer‘ instead of your name
  • messages with spelling mistakes or messy formatting
  • web address that may be slightly different, using .com instead of .gov
  • unexpected links or files you are asked to open.

Stay protected

• Don’t click links, open attachments or reply to unexpected messages.
• Be cautious with messages asking for money or personal details.
• Use spam filters and keep your devices updated.
• Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. 
• Never share log-in details. 
• Double-check requests for money or sensitive information using trusted contact details.

Case study: The importance of recognising common scams

A young couple's plan to start a family was crushed when they lost their life savings to a banking scam.

It began when James got a text from a ridesharing company asking him to update his credit card details. Later, he got a text appearing to be from his bank, warning that scammers were trying to take $5,500 from his account. The message told him to call the bank’s security team.

James was unaware that scammers could disguise their number as a real business. Because the text appeared in the same thread as other messages from his bank, he had no reason to suspect it was a scam.

The scammer told him to open a new bank account and move his money there to protect it. James followed the instructions, and 3 days later, $90,000 was gone. The couple tried to get their money back, but the bank paid only $3,000 in compensation.

This case shows why it's important to be aware of common scams.