How to identify a phishing scam

Phishing is a type of scam that aims to trick people into sharing personal details so it can be used for fraud. Phishing messages look like they're from legitimate sources and can come through emails, phone calls, text messages or even social media channels.

Here's a look at the the warning signs and what you can do to stay safe.

How to spot a phishing scam

Generally, scammers will pose as a friend, a bank or another trusted organisation in order to trick or scare you into responding or providing details. But there are often signs that these messages are fraudulent, including:

• Unofficial email addresses. Emails from official institutions are usually sent from that institution's server. For example, a message from the government should come from a ".gov.au" address. So, always check the address the message has been sent from to see if it matches legitimate correspondence that you've had before.
• Suspicious links or attachments. Never follow links to a third-party website from an email or other message. Go straight to the official website or all the organisation involved. Don't download or open attachments unless you're absolutely certain of what they are.
• Urgent demands for payment or information. Scammers will often create a sense of urgency to trick you into doing things you wouldn't normally do. If the email contains threats, demands immediate action or asks for your personal information, don't trust it.
• Poor spelling and grammar. Less sophisticated scams are more likely to have typos and grammatical errors than legitimate correspondence from a bank or other official organisation. But keep in mind that some sophisticated scams won't have obvious errors.

Check the credentials of anyone who asks for money or personal information before giving them anything. Most scammers will try and avoid showing their faces on live video calls or meeting in person.

George Andreopoulos, Argus Investigations

A real example: The 2020 Latitude Finance scam

To help give you some idea of what an email phishing scam might be like, here's one that was directed at customers holding a Latitude Financial Services Mastercard in January 2020.

In this scam, an official-looking email was sent to Latitude Mastercard customers, asking them to update their security details immediately. It included a link to an official-looking website, where they were prompted to enter their card details. Both the page and the email had branding, formatting and language that you might expect from a financial institution.

Here's a breakdown of what made this scam believable and what gave it away.

As you can see, there's no guaranteed method of spotting a sophisticated scam. And while email spam filters often pick up potential phishing scams, it's important to stay aware.

Remember: Even if a source seems legitimate, it's better to contact the organisation directly regarding any requests for your personal information.

What should I do if I've been scammed?

If you think a scammer has gained access to your bank or credit card details, contact the bank immediately. They can freeze your account and potentially reverse unauthorised transactions.

Depending on the situation, you can also report issues and/or get support from the following organisations:

• Australian Cyber Security Centre
• Scamwatch
• The Australian Taxation Office website, or phone service on 1800 008 540.
• The IDCARE website, or phone service on 1800 595 160
• The police, locally or by phoning 131 444

Tips to avoid being scammed

1. Never respond immediately or agree to anything if an email or phone call, or message seems suspicious.
2. Contact the organisation that the person claims to be from using official contact details and ask if they have any knowledge of the communication and go from there.
3. Never use a link or contact number given to you in a suspicious communication, as this could be part of the scam.

You can also learn more about protecting yourself from fraud and scams with this Finder guide.