Scams, and the con artists behind them, are forever evolving and becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot.
Australian Community Media has compiled a list of current scams identified by sites such as scamwatch.gov.au, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which are dedicated to informing people about fraudulent and dishonest activities.
This time around, the messages appear to include an imminent threat to the personal safety of the loved one. Some messages have claimed that they are embroiled in a drug debt and need the money to avoid harm. Picture by Scamwatch
- The phone scam dubbed the ‘Hi Mum’ scam that successfully fleeced Australians of a reported $2.6 million earlier this year appears to have returned with Scamwatch.gov.au warning people to be aware of the ‘nasty new twist’ included in the message.
- More than 1,150 Australians fell victim to the so-called “Hi Mum” scam in the first seven months of this year.
- Known as “Hi Mum” or “family impersonation” scams, victims are contacted – most often through WhatsApp – by a scammer posing as a family member or friend.
- Previously, the scammer would claim to be a son, daughter or relative and that they had lost or damaged their phone and are making contact from a new number. Then, once they have developed a rapport with their target, the scammer would ask for personal information such as photos for their social media profile or money to help…
