Are you ready to get ScamFit?

This year, we’re calling on 50,000 Australians to step into the ring to get ScamFit through a series of online and in-person workshops. Do you, or your friends or family, need to sharpen your knowledge around scams?

Why?

Each year, in Australia, scams cost consumers, businesses and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars – and untold emotional harm and consequences to those affected.

From January to August 2022, Scamwatch received in excess of 146,700 reports of scams with more than $381.2 million in reported losses.

One type of scam that’s on the rise is nbn impersonation scams.

Losses to nbn impersonation scams are primarily due to ‘remote access scams’, one of the largest growing types of online crime in Australia.

A scammer will call and request access to a device, often claiming the computer or device has been hacked and that they can fix it via remote access. Instead, they gain access to the person’s banking credentials and steal their money.

And while older Australians are typically more vulnerable to nbn scams, our ScamFit program aims to equip everyone with the skills and know-how to identify, respond to, and report nbn impersonation scam attempts.

With ScamFit, we’ll give you the skills to fight back against scammers with the goal of helping reduce the impact of nbn impersonation scams, which have – so far this year – cost Australians more than $1.5 million.

Why it’s important to gain confidence and competence

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in how they extort money. They know how to sound convincing, tap into our everyday behaviours, and can create a sense of urgency to throw people off.

That’s why we want to help you and your loved ones build confidence to recognise scam attempts, learn how to shut down a conversation and avoid being tricked or making a mistake (details to enrol in a ScamFit workshop are below).

Scammers often use current events, such as nbn full fibre upgrades, to legitimise their reasons for contact.

So, what should you do if contacted by someone claiming to be from nbn?

Rule of thumb, if someone claiming to be from nbn contacts you to say you’ve been hacked, you’re going to be disconnected, or asks to remotely access your devices, hang up on them and report it to Scamwatch.

How to protect yourself from scams

Here are our top five tips to protect yourself from being scammed:

1. Know the signs
   
   nbn will never call to say you’ve been hacked, nor ask to remotely access your devices.
   
   
2. Protect yourself
   
   Use multi-factor authentication whenever you can.
   
   
3. Trust your gut
   
   If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
   
   
4. Protect your information
   
   Use a different password for each account – then if one is breached, the others won’t be.
   
   
5. Don’t engage
   
   Hang up on scammers and delete their texts and emails. Then, report it to the ACCC’s Scamwatch.

Join a ScamFit workshop

Over the next 12 months, nbn will run more than 100 free in-person and online ScamFit workshops, covering topics including how to successfully identify and report a scam, and how to protect your personal information from cyber criminals.

A number of these sessions will be run in partnership with the Australian Seniors Computer Club Association, the national peak body for seniors and technology.

Nan Bosler is Emeritus President of the Australian Seniors Computer Club Association, and says, “While people over the age of 65 are often the most vulnerable to nbn impersonation scams, we know that given the right skills and training, there’s no reason older Australians can’t arm ourselves against scammers – and maybe teach younger Australians a thing or two about getting ScamFit.

“There’s no need to be scared of technology, once you know how to use it safely and protect yourself from harm, there is so much to be enjoyed from it.”