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Scamming - what effect does it have on you?

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Posted by: Caféstudy

20th Feb 2015 10:22am

Recently we asked you about your experiences with scammers. We wondered what kind of scams you have received, and what you do about it.
Scamming has become so varied and widespread that almost all of you could recall at least one recent incident. The most common type of scams you mentioned were emails telling the recipient they were entitled to money in some way, and should send their personal details through in order to claim it. Big companies which scammers claimed to be from included Microsoft, Telstra, Optus and several of the banks. Some people even received emails telling them to change their bank or login details because they had already been scammed!

It seems however that you are quickly cottoning on to these ploys, and are sceptical of any communications asking for personal information. Overseas calls in particular are viewed with suspicion. Scamming has become so common and you are so aware of it that some of you even wonder if the genuine communications are scams. As one of you said “I have received genuine emails that I thought were scams and I only realised when the bank actually sent me a letter by snail mail!”

So what are you doing about it? Well, you are turning to the companies which the scammers are claiming to represent. We found that scamming is in fact increasing consumer trust in the big companies, with people turning to them for help in the fight against scammers. Goodwill is high; you recognise it is not the company’s fault. Maggie said specifically of Telstra that “it does not make me mistrust Telstra more as it is not Telstra’s fault that people are out there pretending to be them.” Macgyver7 said “it has brought me closer to Telstra, because of the sound advice by a staff officer.”The fight against scammers could just be a useful tool in building a bridge of trust between you, the consumers, and the big companies.

Emae
  • 12th Apr 2015 10:08am

If it's too good to be true, it's obviously a scam

Especially when they phone you or send you an email saying: " you took part in a survey & have won a prize" or Congratulating you for being selected as a winner etc etc...I question them hard over the phone (if contacted) what day did I do the survey? Which shopping centre were it at? Do they have the original copy of the form I supposedly filled out etc etc...they try to skip by repeatedly saying I've won something without answering the questions, then I tell them not to contact the # or email address or I'll report them...they 100% of the time hang up! lol...


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