Scammers will try to impersonate trusted brands in an attempt to get you to reveal personal and/or financial information. Think before you click, and do not give away any information that can be identifiable to you.
At Designer Appliances, we will never ask for your personal details in an unsolicited manner. If you're ever in doubt about communications you receive, see our tips below or reach out to our team for guidance.
What are scams?
Scams are attempts by cyber criminals to collect information that can be used to steal money, commit identity theft or in some cases hold important information held on your device to ransom.
Common types of scams
Social Media Scams
Online scammers will create a fake account, designed to replicate a trusted brand or organisation. This will be used to collect personal information.
- They may ask you to like, comment on or share content in return for a reward
- They may duplicate existing, legitimate competitions in order to collect data
These scams are an attempt to gather your personal information, including where you live.
SMS Scams
SMS scams are a common way for cyber criminals to persuade you to click a link.
- They can come from an unknown source, or look like an authentic organisation
- They will encourage you to verify information, claim a prize, accept a loan, or pay a debt
Clicking the link may direct you to a website that asks for personal information, or even download a virus that compromises information stored on your phone.
Email Phishing Scams
These scams will attempt to trick you into providing personal or financial information.
- They often create a sense of urgency
- They can contain unrelated or unexpected links and attachments
- They will request personal information from you and sometimes encourage you to collect a prize or offer a loan
How to stay safe
Scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated, creating content that is designed to look authentic. Be alert and protect yourself by following these tips:
- Review the sender's full email address. Does it look familiar or genuine?
- Do not click on unusual links, particularly if you're not sure of the sender.
- Do not open an attachment if you're unsure what it is, or weren't expecting it.
- Never provide your personal, sensitive or financial information when requested by phone, email or text.
- Be wary of unusual notifications that you have won a competition or are entitled to a prize.
- Beware of offers that seem too good to be true. Only place online transactions through legitimate sites you trust. The Designer Appliance website uses secure payment gateways to protect your information. You can read more about payment security here.
If you are unsure about any communications you receive, contact our team and we will validate whether it is legitimate.
What to do if you think you're being scammed
If you see suspicious content, or have questions about something you've received, contact our team and we'll assist you. Include any screenshots or URLs that might help us resolve your query. We also recommend visiting Scamwatch at https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam for further information and steps to report a scam.
How To Spot A Scam
Be on the lookout for communication that contains the following:
Unrelated or unusual web addresses
An unusual looking link, or one with spelling errors can be a sign of a scam.
Create a sense of urgency
Scams will suggest you could miss out or incur consequences if you don't act quickly.
Unexpected attachments
You may be asked to open an attachment you weren't expecting to receive.
Ask for personal information
Scams will request personal or sensitive information from you.
Offers too good to be true
If you receive an offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is