Scammers target thousands of Australians every year via robo-dialers and many people fall victim, either being threatened with arrest, repossession or offered free vacations etc.

Here is a list from RealRenta of the 8 most common phone scams that people have fallen for:

• Free Holidays and Prizes

If they ask you to first pay a small fee in order to collect your prize, this is a Red Flag. If you’ve won something, then you shouldn’t have to pay for it.

• Phishing Scams

These scammers generally carry this out via email or websites but they also do it with phone calls. They will call you and make you think that there is an issue with your computer. They will go on to tell you that your computer and privacy is at risk, in order to get information out of you, or to get you to download malicious software that can steal your information.

• Loan Scams

Be suspicious if you get a cold call offering you money and asking for personal information- it’s typically a scam.

• Phony Debt Collectors or the “ATO”

If you get a call from a Debt Collector or someone claiming to be from the ATO, ask for their name, number and company information and hang up. Then check with your creditor or the ATO and verify if the debt collector is actually working on their behalf.

• Fake Charities

This is one of the most common scams. Before you give out any personal information, ask for the caller’s information and the details of the charity, then end the call. Then call the charity/organization and verify the details to see if they have actually sanctioned this.

• Medical Alert Scams & Scams targeting pensioners

The elderly are especially vulnerable to these scams and the most common being free medical alert system offers. These scammers will also ask for personal information and sometimes they even offer discounted prescriptions. They are just trying to get your credit card information, so it’s best to just hang up on these calls.

• Threats of Arrest for unpaid fines

These calls are designed to make you panic and give your credit card details to them. Remember, the Police, will never call to demand you to send them money.

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