Scammers have been out in force during the coronavirus pandemic

Scammers are on the hunt to catch out unsuspecting Australians in a bid to steal their money during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the warning signs to look out for.

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Text messages, emails and cold calls are the tactics scammers are using to target innocent Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to steal their money.

Sadly fraudsters are out in force as many people hit financially tough times that could last months.

Westpac’s head of digital security Josh Nast said “the pandemic is being used by opportunistic cyber criminals”.

“It’s been used to lure people in, in the hope they will click on links and give up their personal or financial information,” he said.

“They are playing on that fear and anxiety that might be out there in the community.”

SMS scams are one of the most prolific used by crooks, who purport to be financial institutions and other critical services. Or they send emails pretending to be someone in authority.

These are some of the ways scammers operate:

• SMS phishing where scammers pretend to be an authority you trust and they try and trick you into providing personal or financial information or infect your phone with malicious software.

• Email phishing where it looks like it is an email from a trusted organisation and also tricks you into providing personal or financial details.

• Phone scams where they contact you and offer assistance with your computer or Wi-Fi and then steal your information online.

Scammers are using the coronavirus pandemic to target innocent Australians in an attempt to steal their money.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s Moneysmart’s senior executive leader Laura Higgins said during recent weeks Australians had experienced more cyber disruptions.

“Because people are not paying attention or they are distracted by the pandemic or are in crisis they are more likely to click on a link,” she said.

“It’s a reminder, if you don’t know the person don’t click on the link. Don’t give your personal details to anyone.

“The government is not going to ask you those details and they are not going to contact you in that way.”

Ms Higgins said “text messages and links” were the biggest concern at the moment.

“If you click on a link and they can get into your computer they can get your passwords and details,” she said.

“That then rolls into accessing your money or setting up accounts in your name and doing the wrong thing.”

Mr Nast said it was critical all Australians had up-to-date software on all their devices to minimise the risk from scammers.

“Never conduct your banking from a link in an SMS or email,” he said.

“If you are going to be doing your banking make sure you are doing it from your mobile apps, go to the trusted site.”

To report a scam go to scamwatch.gov.au or visit idcare.gov.

@sophieelsworth

Originally published as Scammers have been out in force during the coronavirus pandemic