Slam Scams
Phone call or SMS out of the blue?
Phishy email or ‘lucky’ letter?
Unknown knock at the door?
Strange behaviour from an online friend or admirer?
Scammers target you anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
..Listen to the ABC Mornings’ Interview for Slam Scams week featuring David Hillyard and "Elise" a scam victim.
Tools for small businesses
Small businesses can arm themselves against scammers by watching Stevie’s Scam School, a series of YouTube videos produced by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
How well can you sniff out a scam?
Test your knowledge of common online scams. Take this short and sweet, informative quiz to see how you can protect yourself from scammers.
Protect yourself against scammers
DON’T RESPOND - Ignore suspicious emails, letters, house visits, phone calls or SMS – press ‘delete’, throw them out, shut the door or just hang up
WATCH OUT FOR SLICK TRICKS - Scammers use sophisticated tricks to fool you such as fake websites, glossy brochures, technical jargon or posing as someone that you know and trust – don’t fall for them!
DON’T LET SCAMMERS PUSH YOUR BUTTONS - Scammers will play on your emotions to get what they want
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY - Your personal details are private and invaluable – keep them that way and away from scammers
Scam Alerts
Subscribe to WA ScamNet alert and keep informed about current scams.
Latest Scams
Misuse of Ukash by scammers
WA ScamNet has been warning consumers about the dangers of wire transfer since the scam warning website was originally launched back in 2002. Up until now the predominant service misused during scams targeting Australians has been Western Union. However several recent reports (July 2011-March 2012) received by Consumer Protection and investigated by WA ScamNet have involved a service called Ukash.
Carbon price scams
WA ScamNet is warning consumers and businesses to be on the look out for carbon price scams.
Tax minimisation and tax avoidance schemes
Investment schemes and legal structures that do not comply with the law are considered to be aggressive tax planning arrangements - referred to as tax schemes. A tax scheme is an artificial or contrived arrangement to avoid or defer tax obligations.
Joseph von Jalan - Clairvoyant
At WA ScamNet we didn’t need a crystal ball to know that we’d be naming and shaming another clairvoyant scam; even though we’ve issued warnings about 90 or so previously. A number of copies of a letter and voucher from Joseph von Jalan have been sent to Consumer Protection by concerned Western Australians who felt vulnerable members of the community may be duped; WA ScamNet agrees.
Native language call scams
WA ScamNet warns consumers with English as a second language, to beware of scammers who call, speaking in your native language and requesting money.
Olympics Lottery – UK National Lottery
As athletes train and London gears up for hosting a global sporting event, there’s another group busy at work in the run up to the Olympics 2012 – scammers! Don’t let these fraudsters play games with you and your hard earned cash.
419 Nigerian-type scams
Nigerian-type scams continue to be the most prolific scam hitting Western Australians. Watch the internationally acclaimed movie based on this type of scam 419: the Nigerian Scam.
Media
Latest News
Click here to access the latest print media from WA ScamNet.
iphone and Android Apps
Help us fight scammers
WA ScamNet is a Member of the Taskforce and urges you to protect yourself against scams
Take the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT) survey here
