SCAMwatch warned consumers to be on the look out for scammers seeking to profit from the recent swine flu health threat. There has beena surge in reports overseas of cyber criminals capitalising on fears about swine flu to scam internet users.
Cyber criminals are sending billions of spam emails mentioning swine flu to trick people into opening messages. The majority of spam emails appear to be coming from Brazil, the United States of America and Germany.
Spammers are exploiting the virus to sell bogus pharmaceuticals or to infect computers with malicious software. Authorities overseas warn that scammers have created bogus websites to provide information about swine flu and to sell pills and/or survival kits. Scammers may also try to trick people into sending money or providing personal information.
SCAMwatch advises consumers not to open spam emails, nor should they send money or provide their personal details to people they don’t know and trust.
SCAMwatch reminded consumers to be careful in protecting their superannuation account statements in particular and all their personal information more generally.
The Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Nick Sherry, issued a warning for Australian workers to exercise extra care in protecting their superannuation account statements and personal details. This is in response to information from the New South Wales Police Force that a Sydney-based fraud syndicate is using stolen identities to steal from victims' superannuation accounts.
Syndicate members have allegedly stolen superannuation statements and used other counterfeit identity documents to set up self-managed superannuation funds. The offenders then open bank accounts and arrange for cash to be 'rolled over' from legitimate funds into the fraudulent accounts.
The minister advised that the vast majority of Australian workers have superannuation funds that are regulated by the Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority (APRA). These funds are protected by law against theft and fraud. However, consumers should always be vigilant and careful about protecting their personal information.
If superannuation fund members have any concerns about the security of their account, they should contact either their fund or APRA on 1300 13 1060, or the Australian Taxation Office on 13 10 20. If a consumer has information about a suspected crime, they can also contact the New South Wales Police Force Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SCAMwatch warned small to medium businesses to be on the look out for unusual or complicated orders from overseas, particularly orders that are being paid for by credit card.
The 'prospective buyer' claims that they have made a credit card payment for more than the agreed price. They will then request the unsuspecting business owner to forward the excess money onto freight companies, travel agents or various other businesses,usually via wire or money transfer. This scam appears to be a variation on the cheque overpayment scam.
SCAMwatch understands that large or complicated orders were placed by a person or business based overseas. These orders were placed for both goods and services, such as restaurant and hotel bookings. No specific business sector is targeted, with the industries affected ranging from garden turf to tyres.
In many instances, businesses have reported that the order was clearly suspicious. For example, a buyer in West Africa placed an order for garden turf. Other business owners became suspicious as the prospective buyer offered to pay for the goods or services through a complicated set of transactions involving the transfer of monies from one or more parties. However, other businesses have reported losses.
Given the economic downturn, a lucrative order can be seen as a windfall, but businesses should be cautious and warn staff responsible for taking orders or making payments about this scam.
SCAMwatch warned consumers to be wary of spam emails promising a $500 Myer gift card, which may actually be a ruse to steal your money and personal details.
New South Wales Fair Trading informed SCAMwatch that a number of consumers have received emails from 'Shoppers Saving Centre' asking recipients to participate in a survey in return for a Myer gift card.
New South Wales Fair Trading warns that the survey link may contain a virus designed to gain access to personal bank accounts. SCAMwatch understands that consumers will not receive the gift card by simply taking part in the survey.
Myer released a notice to customers informing them that it did not have an association with Shopper Saving Centre.
SCAMwatch advises consumers that if they receive this email, they should delete it immediately—never provide personal information in response to unsolicited emails.
SCAMwatch received complaints from consumers who were sent unsolicited text messages or SMSs advising that they had won an unexpected prize, usually money. The amount of the 'big win' is usually around US$123 000 and the telephone numbers from where the messages are being sent start with the numbers 856207. These details may change. Reports to SCAMwatch suggest that the text messages appear to come from overseas and request a return message with a name and an email address to where details of the win can be sent.
Some messages may already include a reply email address for the scammer for speedier contact. Anyone responding would find themselves being asked for personal details and an upfront fee of thousands of dollars to release a non-existent prize.
Responding will also confirm the telephone number to the scammers and provide spammers with a new email address to target.
Sometimes it can be difficult to work out the total price of goods and services, especially if businesses only advertise part of the price that you will have to pay to get what you’re after.
From 25 May 2009 businesses are required to provide you with clear information about the total price of the goods and services they advertise.
The total price you have to pay for a product or service may vary according to your personal circumstances or preferences. However, if a business chooses to advertise the price of a product or service, you should be able to easily determine the minimum total price for that good or service.
This should make it easier for you to compare the advertised prices of competing businesses and get the best deal. For more information about clear pricing, go to the ACCC consumer website.
You may have seen advertisements or in-store promotions that include offers of cash-back on certain products when you are shopping for electrical equipment, computers or whitegoods.
Cash-back offers are becoming a popular marketing tool by manufacturers to give you an incentive to buy their brand.
Cash-back promotions are a promise by a manufacturer to refund part of the price of goods you buy or provide you with bonus products to entice you to buy a particular brand of product.
Cash-back promotions are not normally provided by the retailer and are most often redeemed from the manufacturer after the sale, although in some limited cases the retailer will provide the cash-back at the time of the purchase and redeem the rebate from the manufacturer.
Cash-back offers will normally only be paid (or bonus products supplied) once you have met certain terms and conditions.
Cash-back offers are usually only available for a limited time.
Cash-back or bonus product promotions may include restrictions on the number of products eligible for a cash-back or bonus.
International roaming allows you to use your existing mobile phone and number to make and receive calls and text messages when travelling overseas. If your mobile service provider has an agreement with a service provider in the country you are visiting, your mobile is compatible with their network and is equipped with international roaming capability, you will be able to use it as you normally would in Australia.
You will continue to be billed by your home network provider, but the cost of using the overseas network is agreed between your provider and the overseas provider. This cost is passed on to you in your usual bill.
Be warned: using your mobile overseas often costs a lot more than using it at home in Australia and you may come home to find some very expensive mobile bills.
So while it may be convenient to be contactable on your usual mobile number, make sure you understand all the costs and the other alternatives before you decide to use international roaming—don’t let the fine-print cost you! For more information, go to the ACCC consumer website.
The ACCC and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission have jointly launched an issues paper on debt collection practices in Australia. The paper is a summary of the major issues identified during information-gathering activities undertaken by ASIC and the ACCC in 2008, reflecting feedback from a range of stakeholders, including consumers.
The issues paper will soon be available on the ACCC website.
Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) Act 2008
The Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) Act took effect on 25 May 2009. This Act amends s. 53C of the Trade Practices Act 1974, which contains the rules for component pricing. Under the new rules, if a corporation makes a representation about a part of the price a consumer must pay to purchase a product or service, it must also show the single (total) price that consumer will pay, to the extent that figure can be quantified. Optional extras do not need to be included in the single price, nor do postage or sending charges (although those must be shown elsewhere).
The motor vehicle and travel and tourism sectors frequently use component pricing in their advertisements and the ACCC has developed specific guidance for each group—the Pricing manual for the motor vehicle industry and the Pricing manual for the travel industry. These guides explain the obligations on businesses in both industries, not only under s.53C but also under the Trade Practices Act more broadly. To assist other industries that may use component pricing less frequently, the ACCC has also published News for business—Component price advertising and News for business—Component pricing: electrical goods, whitegoods and furniture advertising.
Businesses can find more information about s. 53C requirements on the ACCC website, including links to the publications above and responses to frequently asked questions for different industry groups.
