Scamming is big business

EVERY day we are being warned about scams and scammers.

These con artists are targeting the naive, vulnerable and disadvantaged.

It’s become big business with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission estimating that Australians will lose a record $532 million to scammers this year.

Scammers are professional businesses dedicated to ripping us off. They have call centres with convincing scripts, staff training programs and corporate performance indicators their “employees” need to meet.

Investment scams are expected to account for the highest proportion of losses this year, followed by cryptocurrency scams and dating site romance scams.

Inheritance scams are becoming more sophisticated with the discovery of a fake website using the profiles of real Australian lawyers.

It is very elaborate and may not arouse suspicions in people not familiar with legalese but legitimate law firms do not solicit people to engage in calling in an inheritance.

Do not click on any links and do not send personal details.

If something seems too good to be true, then it is most likely a scam.

Furthermore, don’t answer private calls or numbers which are not familiar. If it is a genuine call they will leave a message.

Cairns police officers and an NBN official visited aged-care homes yesterday to warn residents about scammers. NBN says Far Northern residents have been defrauded of thousands of dollars, including one who lost $18,000.

Scamming is a very clear and present danger. Nick Dalton Deputy editor