The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) promotes competition and fair trade in markets to benefit consumers, businesses, and the community. The ACCC regularly updates consumers about the latest scams to hit the streets as every year scams cost Australians, businesses and the economy hundreds of millions of dollars and cause emotional harm to victims and their families.
The best way to protect yourself is through awareness and education. The latest edition of the ACCC’s The Little Black Book of Scams is a pocket-sized information goldmine that highlights a variety of popular scams that regularly target Australian consumers and small businesses, offering guidance on:
· the most common scams to watch out for,
· the different ways scammers and contact you,
· the tools scammers use to trick you,
· the warning signs,
· how to protect yourself,
· where to get help.
The book covers a wide variety of topics including dating and romance scams, investment scams, unexpected money scams, prize and lottery scams, online shopping, identity theft as well as job and employment scams, charity, medical and business scams. Explained in simple terms are how scams work—the anatomy of a scam, plus importantly, the golden rules to protect yourself, where to find help or support and where to report a scam.
The ACCC Scamwatch website provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report scams. The ACCC works with state and territory consumer protection agencies and other government agencies to promote awareness in the community about scams. The ACCC is an independent Commonwealth statutory authority whose role is to enforce the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure for the benefit of all Australians.
Individuals and community organisations can download a pdf version of The Little Black Book of Scams at: www.accc.gov.au or place an order for hard copies of by calling 1300 302 502 or emailing: publishing.unit@accc.gov.au
To stay one step ahead of scammers, learn more by visiting the ACCC Scamwatch website at: www.scamwatch.gov.au
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