Beware of scam surveys

One of our residents has advised that they have recently started receiving a number of emails offering rewards such as gift cards if they complete a survey. The emails appear to come from well-known companies such as JB Hi-fi, Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths and include the company's logo and contact details.

Fortunately the resident has not clicked on the links as these emails are most likely to be scams. 

In fact, a couple of months ago the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) put out a warning about such scams. They seem to work by asking people to complete what appears to be a normal survey but after asking quite harmless questions it then goes on to ask for more personalised information which can then be used for future scams, to access bank accounts or for identity theft.

If you receive such an email and are interested in taking part, the ACCC suggests that rather than clicking on any links in the email that instead you go onto the company's official website and look to see if there is any mention of the survey there, or by calling the company's official customer service number.

 Here's some information about how these scams work provided on the ACC's Scamwatch website https://www.scamwatch.gov.au

How these scams work

• You receive an email or text message, or come across a social media post, claiming that you have been selected to receive or have the chance to win a gift card from a well-known company.
• The email, message or post appears legitimate, using brand names and official logos to convince you it’s the real deal.
• As with many legitimate offers and online posts, you might be asked to complete a survey or pass on an offer to others before you can claim the gift card or voucher.
• Upon completing the survey, forwarding or accepting the offer you will generally be directed to a well-constructed webpage. Here, you will be prompted to provide personal information such as your phone number, address and bank account details.
• After handing over your personal information, you may receive a fake gift voucher or alternatively, receive nothing at all. You may also begin to receive unsolicited emails and phone calls requesting more information that the scammer may use to commit identity theft and other fraud.

Scamwatch's suggestions to protect yourself

• Be alert to unsolicited offers – while some offers may be legitimate sometimes they are scams and can be very difficult to identify – it’s always best to check independently every time.
• Verify the offer – Always check whether an offer is genuine, even those passed on from people you know. Contact the relevant retailer using contact details you get from a phone book or independent online search.
• Avoid clicking links – don’t rely on links or phone numbers appearing in an offer – these can direct you to fake websites or download malware. If you get an email supposedly from a well-known company, before clicking, hover your computer mouse over the URL or link. If the address after the ‘@’ symbol doesn’t end with the company’s name and .com, it’s likely to be a scam.
• Take your time – many scams will claim the offer is limited to try and create a sense of urgency. Don’t be rushed into handing over your personal information.
• Consider your privacy – Only provide information such as Medicare numbers and credit card security codes to organisations you can trust – requests of this nature should ring alarm bells.
• Report – If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately.

You can report scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissioner (ACCC) :

• Scamwatch page report a scam page or
• telephone: 1300 795 995.

(Source of Scamwatch information -article on Scamwatch website dated 2 June 2017)