Westpac scam data: Bank reveals the time of day scammers trick you
Westpac's research proves that a busy weekday afternoon is when we're most vulnerable to scams.
It's a Tuesday afternoon. You get a text message from Australia Post about a delayed parcel delivery. You click the link without even thinking it could be a scam.
You're busy finishing up work, you have to pick the kids up, there's nothing in the fridge for dinner. Your guard is down. Before you know it, you've given a scammer your personal information.
New research from Westpac shows that it's precisely this time of day that scammers are most successful.
"We're seeing a clear pattern where scammers are striking later in the day, most commonly on Tuesday afternoons," says Westpac Head of Fraud Prevention, Ben Young.
"You might receive a suspicious message in the morning, but it's often in the late afternoon, when your guard is down, that you act on it. That's the window scammers are counting on."
Scam statistics
How much are we really losing to scams?
Westpac's analysis of transaction data shows that scammers are most likely to get you on a Tuesday afternoon around 4pm, followed by Thursdays and Mondays.
Remote access scams are the most common scams people fall victim to. These scams involve the scammer tricking you into giving them complete access to your computer, often while pretending to be from Telstra or Microsoft.
Scams cost Australians billions of dollars a year. Finder research suggests the average victim of card skimming loses $418.
How to stay safe from scams
Westpac's research highlights a really important aspect of scam prevention: recognise when you're most distracted, busy, and likely to make a mistake.
- Whenever you get an email or SMS supposedly from your bank, a utility provider or Australia Post, stop before clicking any links or replying.
- Be especially wary if the message is "urgent" or claims you need to take immediate action.
- Verify a company and their details before sending, clicking or signing anything. Use a separate browser or device and confirm key details like phone numbers and email addresses.
- Never give someone on the phone access to your computer.
- Hang up if you're not sure. You can always call your bank or telco back (on a number you find on the bank's website).
Sources
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