The Albanese Government is urging Australians to be vigilant to criminal scammers this holiday season.
From Christmas presents to Boxing Day sales, we know this is a time of year people are more likely to be shopping online. It is important we do this safely and stay alert to suspicious behaviours.
We know that scammers take advantage of significant events. At tax time, they've sent text messages claiming to be from myGov. When big name concerts come to town, they ramp up fake ticket scams. Unfortunately, the holiday season is no different.
This is a common time of year for scammers to increase their presence on social media to lure people to fake websites in an attempt to steal their identity or money.
According to Scamwatch, Australians lost over $300,000 in December 2023 to online shopping scams alone. Social media platforms remain one of the largest vectors for scammers to find victims.
The Albanese government understands the financial and emotional turmoil experienced by scams victims. That is why we are leading the biggest crackdown on scams anywhere in the world.
The Scams Prevention Framework has been introduced to parliament, which, when passed, will make Australia the toughest target for scammers. It will force banks, telcos, and social media to significantly lift their game to stop scams.
Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, also recently announced the mandatory SMS sender ID registry, which will force telcos to block bulk texts from numbers that do not match an authorised business.
The Government's work in this space has facilitated a 41 per cent decrease in scam losses between the financial year 2022-23 and 2023-24, according to Scamwatch.
While the Albanese government is working hard to keep people's money safe, it is important Australians are aware of these threats and remain vigilant.
The Government is urging Australians to remember these top tips to help protect themselves.
- STOP: before sharing personal information
- CHECK: that you know who you're dealing with
- PROTECT: against scams by taking actions like reporting them to Scamwatch.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones MP
"Online shopping can be a great way to get that last minute holiday shopping sorted, but it is important we do so safely.
"Our government is working hard to crackdown on criminal scammers trying to make a buck out of Australians.
"Remember to Stop, Check, Protect, and consult a trusted person if you think something looks a bit too good to be true."
