Advance fee frauds
Advance fee fraudsters are experts at conning you into paying various fees and charges to access non-existent funds or goods.
Advance fee frauds can come in the guise of fake lottery wins, pleas to help others to access funds in foreign bank accounts, and even “love interests”. Familiarise yourself with the different types of advance fee frauds by clicking here.
- Do not respond to unsolicited emails or letters claiming you have won an overseas lottery you have never entered.
- Do not respond to unsolicited approaches to help strangers move money across borders in exchange for a commission.
- Be careful when Internet dating. Make sure your Romeo or Juliet is interested in you - and not your bank account.
- Do not provide your personal information – including bank account details, address, passport or driver's licence numbers – to strangers. This information can be used for identity fraud or to con others.
- Never send money to a stranger using a money wire transfer service. Requests to wire transfer is a big warning sign that something is a scam. Scammers prefer this type of payment style because it is almost impossible to recover the money. Check out Western Union’s tips on protecting yourself from fraud at www.westernunion.com.au
- Advance fee fraudsters often request that you keep your winnings or involvement in accessing funds a secret. Don’t follow their advice.
- If you receive a suspicious letter or email, report it to WA ScamNet.
- Advance fee fraud emails are also regarded as spam. If you have been a target of spam please contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at www.spam.acma.gov.au
Page last updated on: -
Monday, 3 September 2007
