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Westpac is warning Australians to be prepared for more scam calls in the lead up to Christmas.
The big four bank received an increase in fraudulent calls following the recent Black Friday sales.
The scams include:
– Fake parcel deliveries, where scammers tell you a parcel is on its way with a link to track delivery in order to have you download software so they can steal money or information;
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– Buying-and-selling scams using fake websites that offer goods that are too cheap to be true;
– Charity scams that set up fake donation websites to take advantage of generosity; and,
– Investment scams offering quick and high returns.
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Westpac said it processed 32 million customer interactions during the Black Friday sales period. It said there was a 17 per cent jump in fraud-related calls.
Westpac fraud prevention general manager Chris Whittingham said if you receive a phone call, don't be afraid to hang up or let it go to voicemail.
"Never click on the link from those particular SMSs and provide your personal details," Whittingham said.
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"The bank will never ask for those personal details."
Scams are believed to cost Australians $2 billion a year.
Telstra alone is blocking 332 million scams and unwanted emails every month, that's 7600 every minute.
Source: 9News
