Australians urged to be wary of coronavirus-related scams as shoppers turn online
Australia’s competition watchdog is urging people to remain vigilant of scams after receiving dozens of reports mentioning the coronavirus.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch website has received 45 reports of alleged coronavirus-related fraud since 1 January 2020.
“Unfortunately, scammers are using the spread of coronavirus to exploit and play on the fears of consumers across Australia,” an ACCC spokesperson said.
“Scammers are using tactics such as falsely selling coronavirus related products online, and using fake emails or text messages to try and obtain personal data.”
Among the scams reported were phishing emails claiming to be soliciting money for the World Health Organization, ads for online shops purporting to sell expensive medical face masks, and texts claiming to be Australian Government advice on COVID-19 testing aimed at stealing bank details.
A now-removed website had also been claiming to sell a coronavirus vaccine.
With Australian shops experiencing shortages of various products, some people are turning to the internet to buy things unavailable in stores.
The ACCC is urging people to be careful and said the best way to detect a fake trader or online shopping scam is to search for reviews before purchasing.
“Be careful of online shopping sites requesting unusual payment methods such as up-front payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, pre-loaded card or electronic currency, like Bitcoin,” the spokesman said.
“Always keep your computer security up to date with anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a good firewall [and] do not open attachments or click on links in emails, text messages or social media messages you’ve received from strangers – just press delete.”
An ACCC report released last week found Australians under 25 lost over $5 million to scams in 2019 and reports made from that age group were increasing faster than older generations.
Facebook and Instagram were the most common platforms for reports and losses, but the competition watchdog said it expects to see increased activity on newer platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok.
People who think they may have fallen victim to a scammer are advised to contact their financial institution. They can also report a scam to the ACCC through Scamwatch.
As of Tuesday afternoon, only people who have recently travelled from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and experienced symptoms within 14 days are advised to be tested.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
Gloss