You could end up:

• Buying something that doesn’t exist
• Giving away your personal information 
• Giving away money under false pretences
• Buying gifts, flights and other things with the pretence the ‘scammer’ is being honest 
• Becoming emotionally involved with a scammer and willingly handing over hundreds and thousands of dollars

When a scammer calls you, their main objective is to steal your information. Scammers can alter their phone country code and even use accents to try and trick you into giving them money or your personal information. If you're unsure if the caller is legitimate or not, ask them who they're calling on behalf of, hang up and then call the company back on their official phone number. 

It's important to be cautious of anyone you’ve become emotionally or romantically involved with online, through apps or even over the phone, especially if they're asking for things such as money, gifts or plane tickets.

Ask yourself

• Do I know this phone number?
• Would my phone company or bank really ask for this information over the phone?
• Are they asking more and more from me (from a small transaction to flights and accommodation)?
• Have I met them in person? Can I really verify their identity?
• Am I able to call back the company number to verify? 

If a Phisher is successful, they can affect you in a number of ways:

• Infect your devices
• Steal your personal information
• Steal your financial information 
• Bring down an organisation from the inside
• Deliver Malware – widespread infection in a network

Be suspicious of unexpected emails. Scam emails can look very real. They often include a link to a fake website, where you'll be asked to enter personal details or provide financial information. Don't reply and avoid opening any attachments or clicking on any links. Spam emails can carry viruses, so delete the email right away. If you’re unsure, you can always ask someone you know who’s computer savvy. The safest option is to delete. 

Ask yourself: 

• Are there spelling mistakes?
• Does this make sense or sound odd or like broken English? 
• Does it seem too good to be true? 
• Do I know this person/company? 
• Can I contact the person/company phone number to verify this claim?

• You could lose considerable amount of money over a period of time
• See large sums disappearing from your account
• Give away money as you feel ‘guilted’ into paying
• No longer have control of your accounts
• See transactions you can’t recall making

• Don’t give away eftpos or credit card information to anyone – including family or carers
• Delegate a trustworthy power of attorney
• Ensure your lawyer is aware of your situation if power of attorney is initiated
• Keep a watchful eye over your accounts and ensure you know what’s being spent where