Lily Plass
22 December 2024, 6:40 AM
Many are looking forward to the holiday season -Â Â including scammers.Â
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The Christmas season is the perfect opportunity for scammers to take advantage of the increase in postal deliveries and people looking for a cheap sale.Â
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"Scammers are particularly active during the festive season," Chief Operating Officer for Newcastle Greater Mutual (NGM) Group, Stuart Hall said.Â
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According to Scamwatch, there have been 58,517 scams in NSW this year between January and October of this year amounting to more than $93 million in losses.
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To keep your money in your pocket stay skeptical of any unexpected messages, verify before you buy or donate anything online, and use strong passwords or two-factor authentication to protect your bank and shopping accounts.Â
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"Fraudsters are getting more sophisticated but there are ways to stay one step ahead.
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"Parcel delivery scams are on the rise with scammers sending fake notifications about unpaid fees or missed deliveries," Mr Hall said.Â
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One of the most recent scams involving postal deliveries shows scammers sending a text asking the person to confirm their address.
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These scams are sent using the sender ID 'Auspost' and even appear in the same chat as legitimate messages from Auspost making them seem like the real deal. '
 An example of how both legitimate and fake Auspost messages can appear in the same chat. Photo: AusPost
The primary age group falling prey to the scams were 65 and over, followed by 55- to 64-year-olds.Â
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NGM Group also urged the public to keep a close eye on their vulnerable friends and family and assist them with online shopping.Â
"Knowing the warning signs and being aware of common scams can make a huge difference."Â
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"If you suspect you've been scammed, report it to the ACCC and contact your bank straight away so they can help secure your accounts.
"Taking a moment to think before you click or make a payment can prevent a lot of headaches"
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