Basic tips

What to look out for

Scams aren’t always easy to identify but they share two common characteristics – they look credible and they know how to push the all right buttons to get you to respond.

Be wary if the offer:

Promises to make you rich very quickly without much effort.
Offers “free gifts” or prizes from a competition you never entered.
Appears to be an official style correspondence.
Assures you that the offer is ‘legal’.
Urges you to act now and/or advise you not tell anyone else.

If an opportunity sounds too good to be true, be careful and follow these tips.

Try and hold off to think about your options
Research or investigate the opportunity. Put the name or company provider in an Internet search engine like Google. If you can’t find the information then don’t proceed.
Ask questions. Find out whom you’re dealing with and what the guarantees are.
Make an informed decision and don’t feel pressured.
If you can not identify it through WA ScamNet then ring Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54

Always be careful about giving your personal details – including bank details or using your credit card - when dealing with people or companies you do not know. Identity fraud is a multi-million dollar business.

Help us alert others to the scam by forwarding suspicious emails to WA ScamNet.

Alternatively, post any letter scams you receive direct to WA ScamNet (no stamp required):

WA ScamNet - Consumer Protection
Reply Paid 64772
Locked Bag 14
Cloisters Square
Western Australia 6850

Page last updated on: - Tuesday, 6 January 2009