One quarter of Australians are being targeted by scammers multiple times a week, new data shows.
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But most people (84 per cent) say they can spot a scam, and three in five (61 per cent) are confident they wouldn't fall for one either.
While the data, commissioned on behalf of a digital security and privacy company, might show people are confident about tackling the threat, the Federal Government's Scamwatch site shows just how many Australians are falling victim.
Last month $42.7 million was lost to scammers, taking the total to $336m so far this year, according to data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch.
This year's losses are already four per cent higher than the $323m lost during the entire 12 months of 2021.
Half of Australians admitting they would feel embarrassed if they fell for a scam.
- Cyber security expert Stephen Kho
Cyber security expert from Avast, Stephen Kho, said there is a disconnect between Australians' perceived confidence in ability to identify a scam, and the increasing amount of money being lost to scams every year.
"This is being further fuelled by our own fear of embarrassment, with half (50 per cent) of Australians admitting they would feel embarrassed if they fell for a scam, despite the prevalence and sophistication of some of these scams," he said.
The privately commissioned data reveals many people (45 per cent) admit they would be more likely to fall for a scam that addresses them by name. Also, almost half (44 per cent) of those surveyed are complacent with their online security.
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Of the losses so far this year, Scamwatch data shows $191m was lost after victims were contacted through their mobile phone.
A further $44.6m was lost through social networking and $44.1m via email.
The private research surveyed 1010 people across Australia and was conducted on behalf of Avast.
Tips to help you spot a scam
- The sender's name is vague, and the email address is long or convoluted
- The sender's phone number is international or an unknown local phone number
- The email or message is attention-grabbing or alarmist
- The call you have received is from an unknown number with a robo speaker
- The email or message urges immediate action of some kind
- The email, message or call cites some pretence for seeking your personal information, including asking you to log in or confirm your details on a website
- The email or message requests payment or a transfer of funds
- The email or message urges you to click hyperlinked text or a link without clarifying where you are clicking