Did you know that Australians have lost more money to social media scams than any other contact method in 2024 and expect this to increase in 2025? According to Scamwatch, over 6,000 people reported losing a whopping $58.3 million to social media scams in just the first 10 months of 2024 and increasing in 2025.
How Scammers Operate
Scammers use fake or hijacked profiles on social media, messaging platforms, and apps to steal your money and personal information. They might approach you with:
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- Investment Scams: Promises of quick, easy money with minimal risk.
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- Job Scams: Ads for jobs requiring payment for training or access to work tasks.
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- Romance Scams: Pretending to be a romantic interest.
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- Too Good to Be True Offers: Competitions or limited-time offers.
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- High-Priced Buys: Offering to buy something you’re selling at an unexpectedly high price without seeing it.
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- Low-Priced Sales: Selling items at suspiciously low prices.
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- Overseas Lies: Claiming they live overseas and can’t meet in person.
How to Spot a Scam
Be cautious if you:
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- Are contacted by someone you don’t know on social media or messaging platforms.
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- Are offered employment without an interview.
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- Are invited to invest in something with little information.
How to Protect Yourself
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- STOP: Don’t send money or share personal information with anyone you’ve only met online.
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- CHECK: Research profiles, recruiters, and opportunities thoroughly. Fake profiles often lack history, details, and followers.
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- PROTECT: Report suspicious activity to Scamwatch. Your report can help protect others.
Benefits of Cybermate 3.0
To further protect yourself, consider using Cybermate 3.0—an advanced cybersecurity awareness training tool designed to detect and educate users on the latest scams circulating in market before they reach you. Cybermate 3.0 offers:
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- Enhanced Awareness Training: Engaging, bite-sized videos that make learning a breeze.
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- Advanced Phishing Simulator: Now, you have the option to send phishing emails directly to users’ inboxes for a real-world experience.
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- 24/7 Dark Web Scanning for your compromised data: Stay ahead of emerging threats with round-the-clock monitoring.
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- Customised Scam Alerts: Personalised alerts tailored to each user’s preferences
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
Don’t be embarrassed—scams can happen to anyone. If you’ve shared personal information, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for help. Reporting the scam not only helps you but also assists authorities in combating these scams.
