Gippslanders have been urged to remain on high alert for scams and phishing attempts following last week’s global IT outage, which catapulted major businesses, banks, media outlets, supermarkets, and airlines into chaos.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said technology has brought many benefits but also exposed residents to risks from cybercriminals.
“While the recent global IT outage was not a malicious cyber security incident, hackers were quick to take advantage of the situation with individuals and small businesses in particular, reporting attempted phishing,” Mr Chester said.
“Phishing is an online scam in which cybercriminals attempt to trick you into giving them personal information by sending an email or text message pretending to be from a well-known source, an internet service provider, a bank, or a mortgage company, for example.
“They may try to steal your online banking logins, credit card details or passwords, which can result in the loss of information, money or identity theft.”
Mr Chester said the global IT outage was a timely reminder to remain educated about the warning signs of scams and to put good cyber safety practices into play and urged Gippslanders to be particularly vigilant about scammers who claim to be from myGov or the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
“Among the host of other scams that are bombarding people’s text messages and emails reporting to be from road toll companies, Australia Post and banks, recently, my office has received increased reports of phishing scammers reporting to be from myGov or the ATO,” Mr Chester said.
“These criminals will often use text messages or emails to lure people into clicking a link, using phrases such as ‘You have a new message in your myGov inbox—click here to view’ or ‘You are due to receive an ATO Direct refund’.
“Never open these links – neither myGov nor the ATO will ever send an email or text message with a link to sign into myGov.
“Never click on links in unsolicited text messages, never give anyone remote access to your computer, and check if communication from an organisation is genuine by independently searching the internet for official websites or contact phone numbers to ascertain the veracity of the message.”
As the number of scams reaches an all-time high and artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance, Mr Chester said having the necessary tools and knowledge to protect yourself online is crucial.
“Australians reported a record number of scams last year, more than 600,000, with losses totalling $2.7 billion,” Mr Chester said.
“People over 65 were more likely to lose money than any other age group, with figures indicating scammers targeted older Australians with retirement savings who might be looking for investment opportunities.
“Learn Local Gippsland providers offer many wonderful digital literacy programs at Neighbourhood Houses and Community Resource Centres across the region to help you gain the necessary tools and knowledge to protect yourself online.”
To find out more about Learn Local Gippsland’s digital technology courses, visit https://www.gippslandlearnlocal.community/courses.
For more information about what to do if you think you have been scammed, visit the Australian Government’s Scamwatch website: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/stay-protected/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed
Additionally, The Little Black Book of Scams, a guide to spotting, avoiding, and protecting yourself against scams, is available for free at Mr Chester’s offices in Sale and Traralgon.
If you would like to request a copy of The Little Black Book of Scams be mailed to you, call Mr Chester’s electorate office on 1300 131 785.
