Recently, we’ve noticed more people being caught out by scam websites and providers. 

In fact, even Paul experienced this firsthand, he ordered furniture online… and no, this isn’t one of those stories where the couch turns up doll-sized or a completely different colour. After multiple attempts to contact the retailer with no response, he contacted his bank and lodged a scam report. Thankfully, he got his money back, and the site was taken down as he was not the only victim. 

So if you think you’ve been scammed, here’s what to do:

1. Contact your bank immediately
   Call your bank or card provider and ask them to stop or block any transactions. Acting quickly can help limit any further loss.
2. Escalate if needed
   If you’re not satisfied with your bank’s response, you can lodge a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. https://www.afca.org.au/make-a-complaint
3. Report the scam
   Report the incident via ScamWatch. This helps authorities track scams and protect others. Even online relationship scams can be reported here.  You can also leave a review online to warn other people.

https://portal.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam/ 

Quick Tips to Spot a Scam 

• Search the retailer’s name along with terms like “scam”, “no delivery,”, or “no contact.” 
• Be cautious of unfamiliar or unusual payment methods 
• Avoid businesses asking for payment in strange or non-standard ways 
• Check for legitimate reviews (or lack of them) 
• Verify the business via an ABN lookup if one is listed on their website 

Test your scam awareness
You can learn more and test your scam awareness on Scamwatch.

https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/