In recent months, the Australian Government’s ScamWatch Centre has sounded the alarm on a concerning trend – an upsurge in scams targeting Chinese international students. These scams involve scammers masquerading as Chinese police officers and employing a variety of tactics to threaten, intimidate, and ultimately steal from unsuspecting young people.
This rise in this activity raise critical questions: What are scams, how can you recognise their warning signs, and, most importantly, how can you protect yourself from falling victim to them?
Scams, in the world of cybercriminals, are a method of compromising personal information and/or accounts. They typically use communication channels including email, text messages, phone calls and social media, and often take on the guise of a person or organisation you trust. Their aim? To trick you into paying money or providing your sensitive personal information.
But fear not! There are ways to distinguish between legitimate communications and deceptive scams.
Firstly, you need to determine whether what you’ve encountered is a scam. To do this, it’s crucial to be well-informed and stay up-to-date with the latest scams in circulation.
Secondly, always rely on trusted, direct sources for your information and avoid using any links or contact details provided by potential scammers.
Thirdly, cross-reference the information they’re seeking with official sources. Reputable companies and organisations typically outline what information they will or will not request from you online or over the phone – if what they’re asking for doesn’t line up, it’s most likely a scam.
After you’ve considered the above, and think that you’re being scammed, remember the following:
- Don’t click on links, open attachments, or reply to requests for personal information or access to your computer.
- Contact your bank if you think your credit cards or bank accounts are at risk.
- Ignore the call/text and refer to the National Anti-Scam Centre, ScamWatch, to report it.
- Report a cybercrime or security incident at ReportCyber.
By arming yourself with this knowledge, you can navigate the treacherous waters of online interactions with confidence and protect yourself from falling prey to scams.
For more information about the current scam threatening Chinese students and its warning signs, visit the ScamWatch website.
Visit the Australian Government website for more information about how to recognise and report scams.
