I admit it. I am the victim of my own stupidity. Of course, I should have checked that scam text supposedly from Australia Post, at least given it a moment’s thought. Instead I am just one more Australian lamenting my carelessness as I ponder the risks as well as the convenience of living life constantly connected to a phone.

In Australia, the losses reported to Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre, added up to $174 million in the first six months of this year. That’s a 26 per cent increase on the same period last year despite individuals becoming more alert to the various techniques used by the world’s scammers. Yours truly excepted, alas.