Common Scams
1. Lottery, sweepstakes and competition scams
An email, letter or text message from an overseas lottery or sweepstakes company arrives from out of nowhere.
It says you have won a lot of money or fantastic prizes in a lottery or sweepstakes competition you did not enter.
These scams try to trick you into giving money upfront or your personal details in order to receive the prize.
Scammers typically claim that you need to pay fees or taxes before your winnings or prize can be released.
You may also have to call or text a premium rate phone number to claim your prize.
Remember you cannot win a prize if you haven’t entered.
2. Dating and romance scams
Scammers create fake profiles on legitimate dating websites.
They use these profiles to try to enter into a relationship with you so they can get a hold of your money and personal details.
The scammer will develop a strong rapport with you then ask for money to help cover costs associated with illness, injury, travel or a family crisis.
Scammers seek to exploit your emotions by pulling on your heart strings. Sometimes the scammers will take months and months to build up the rapport.
How to Know Your Account Got Hacked
1. Your social media account has posts you didn’t make
2. You can’t log into your email or social media account
3. Your Sent folder has messages you didn’t send, or has been emptied
4. Friends and family are getting emails or messages you didn’t send, sometimes with random links or fake pleas for help or money
