Your security
Tips and tricks to protect yourself against cybercrime.
Protect yourself
Although super is generally much less accessible than the money in your bank account for example, a scammer could still attempt to use your personal information to make a withdrawal without your knowledge.
You can help to minimise the risks of identity theft and other breaches of privacy by learning how to identify fraudulent activity and how to keep your personal information safe.
Types of cybercrime
Email and SMS scams
Look out for the following:
- Often have poor spelling and grammar
- May ask you to click on a link or download something
- May request your personal details
- Look official, but contain a fake logo, url or phone number
- May not address you by name
- May have poor resolution (low quality images or blurry text)
Hoax or clone websites
There may be a time when you come across a fraudulent website, intending to appear like a legitimate website. If you’re able to login and provide personal information through a site, a hoax or clone website may be trying to access this information.
Ways to avoid providing information to a clone site:
- Make your own way to websites you know and trust by typing their website address into your browser and avoid clicking on links contained in emails or SMS that request your login credentials.
- Bookmark or record any website that you login to. This will prevent you from being taken to a fraudulent or fake website from search engines or emails.
- Maintain a strong password, change it regularly and use different passwords for different online services.
Contact from third parties
- If it’s too good to be true, it probably is
If you receive an email or a text claiming you’ve received a refund or other unclaimed monies and you need to click a link or provide personal details to find out more, don’t. An organisation would never ask you to update or provide personal information via text, email or social media. They also won’t ask you to download or install anything. - Don’t bend to bullies
Some scammers may be aggressive or manipulative and try to intimidate you, accusing you of owing ‘them’ money and threatening jail time. Remember reputable organisations would never try to ‘bully’ personal information out of you over the phone. - When in doubt, call or verify first
If someone calls out of the blue claiming to be an official organisation, such as the ATO, you can look up the number online and check that it’s legitimate before you do anything. - Stay awake
Keep your eyes open and be alert to anything unusual. Don’t click on links or attachments in emails. Be cautious whenever you’re asked for your personal details. If they fall into the wrong hands, you could become a victim of identity theft or fraud.
How to protect yourself
Unfortunately, we’re all vulnerable to cybercrimes such as identity theft, scamming, and fraud. It’s important you know how to prevent this happening to you.
Our top tips
- Constantly update your devices - keeping up to date with the latest software will mean you can avoid unwanted bugs and glitches while increasing your device’s information security.
- Change your passwords regularly - make sure they’re strong and secure. There are numerous programs out there to keep track of your passwords if you’re worried you can’t keep track of them all!
- Learn common scams - Phone and email scams continue to be the most common and effective method that hackers use to get at your data. Bookmark scamwatch.gov.au to keep up to date with the latest protection measures.
- Teach others - don’t forget to pass your knowledge on. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable and often targeted.
- Be sure to secure your wireless network with a strong password and be careful using public wireless networks which are often prone to hackers.
Your personal details are worth keeping safe. If you think that your personal information has been stolen, contact iDcare - a free national identity and cyber support service.
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