KEY POINTS:
- Australia’s communications watchdog has revealed the top three phone scams.
- Fake calls from Amazon, NBN and banks top the list.
- The watchdog is urging consumers to be vigilant.
If you’ve received a dodgy phone call from someone purporting to be from Amazon recently, you’re certainly not alone.
Fake calls about issues with your Amazon account claiming money will be taken from you if you don’t provide personal information are the leading phone scam, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says.
Banking and finance impersonations asking you to verify your identity via personal information after alleged suspicious activity in your account ranks second, while scam callers impersonating an NBN technician are third.
ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said consumers had to be vigilant when dealing with companies in any setting.
“All five of the top reported scams impersonate trusted and well-known businesses, with scammers often displaying a fake number or sender information on your phone to make the contact look legitimate,” she said.
“Many businesses clearly state they will not contact you out of the blue or send messages with links seeking financial information or personal details, so always treat these calls with caution.”
Amazon said it would continue to invest in protecting customers from such scams.
“Amazon will never ask for credit card information to verify your identity before helping with a customer service issue, ask for payment over phone or email,…
