Stop. Check. Protect. This Scams Awareness Week

Whether it’s working, shopping, banking or connecting, Victorians are spending more time online than ever before. But with this convenience comes greater vulnerability to online scams.

Recent data shows that a third of us don’t always check the details of the sender when receiving texts or emails. Alarmingly, 1 in 5 will click on links or attachments from unknown senders. These habits are putting Victorian individuals – and the organisations they work for – at risk.

Scams aren’t just poorly written emails anymore; they’re getting increasingly harder to spot. Fake crypto investment opportunities, fraudulent online retailers and impersonation scams are tricking people every day.

Scams Awareness Week is a timely reminder for Victorians to lead by example and make cyber-safe choices part of our everyday routines. The national theme this year is 'Stop. Check. Protect’ - 3 simple steps that can make a real difference to your online safety.

1. Stop. Take a moment before giving your personal or financial information to anyone.
2. Check. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Is the message genuine? Is the website legitimate?
3. Protect. Act quickly if something feels wrong. Change your password, contact your bank, report the scam.

Our Scam Safe Check is a great place to start. It can help you identify if a text message, email, social media post, website or phone call is suspicious - and guide you on what to do next.

If you do spot a scam, you can report it to Scamwatch. And, if you’ve fallen victim to a crime involving a scam, please report it to ReportCyber.

Staying safe online starts with awareness. Take a moment this week to remember the steps, share the message and play your part in building a safer digital future for Victoria.