Investment Scams: Where To Get Help
There are many types of scams that happen in Australia. Depending on the circumstances, there are a number of organisations which can help. We provided some quick links below to helpful organisations, as well as a quick list of essential things you should do if you fall victim to a scam.
Australian Organisations Who Can Help
Depending on the type of scam you have become a victim of, the below organisations may be able to assist.
Things You Need To Do
Tell People You Know
Make sure you share your experience among your friends and family, so that they too can be educated on what to look out for with investment scams. People experience tremendous emotional turmoil when they are faced with losing large sums of money. By sharing this knowledge, you could be saving someone you love, a lot of heartache.
Notify Your Financial Institution
If you have shared your banking details with a scammer, or have sent money to them, call your financial institution immediately. They may be able to put a stop to the transaction, and close your account in the event that the scammer has your details. If you have a credit card that was billed fraudulently, you may be able to reverse the transaction.
Report a Scam
Have you unfortunately become a victim of an investment scam? This can be a really stressful time for people, and often it’s difficult to know where to turn to for help. A really helpful place to start is The Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions (ACCC) website. The ACCC website provides a form where you can report any of the scams that have been mentioned in our investment scam blog series. Visit the ACCC website to report a scam.
Change Your Passwords
If you think your online security has been compromised, make sure you change all of your passwords on your devices immediately. It may also be useful to use a program such as Lastpass and 2 factor authentication to ensure your passwords and online accounts are as secure as possible.
Counselling and Support
Victims of financial scams often experience serious emotional turmoil. There are services available to help.
