Consumer Affairs Victoria

Information about shopping and services

Scams

Easy English fact sheet For more information about this fact sheet, see page 12

You might need help to read this information. A friend, family member or support person can help you. 1

What is a scam?
A scam is a trick to get money from you.

When an offer seems too good to be true, then it could be a scam.

In this book we will talk about the people or groups of people that will try and scam you. Scams can look like they are from a real company.

Be careful when the offer says:

You will get lots of money if you do what they ask You will get a free present or prize from a competition that you did not enter.

What can you do?

Do not say yes or pay money to people you do not know

Do not let people rush you. Stop and think. Take your time

Make sure information or bills are real.

How to find out more information Talk to your friends and family Look at the companys website on the internet Look at these websites www.scamwatch.gov.au www.consumer.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 55 81 81 www.fido.asic.gov.au or phone 1300 300 630.

There are many different scams

This fact sheet talks about 11 different scams. There are other scams. Contact Consumer Affairs Victoria for more information.

1. You are a winner! 2. People who promise to see into the future and special computer programs 3. Buy stock market shares or property 4. Door to door scams 5. Send your bank details in an email 6. Pyramid schemes 7. Be your own boss 8. Fax or phone us back 9. Pay for the internet through your phone 10. Weight loss or health programs 11. Pay for fake advertising

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1. You are a winner!

You get a letter or email or text message. It says You are a winner! The message asks you to pay a fee to get a prize The message asks you to ring an expensive 1900 phone number to get a prize. There is probably no prize! Stop and think, Did I go in this competition? If you did not, then it is a scam.

2. People who promise to see into the future or give you luck Special computer programs
The person promises you wonderful changes to your life The person promises to give you the winning lotto numbers. You will pay a lot of money and get nothing back. 5

3. Buy stock market shares or property

The people say they are financial or investment advisers The people promise you will get lots of money back.

The people will charge you a very high price. You will pay a lot more money than you should for the property or shares.

4.

Door to door scams

The person pressures you or scares you The person asks you to do a survey and then asks you to buy something The person looks like a worker but they are not The person asks you to pay a deposit. The person does not do the work.

Do not buy anything or give any money. Take your time to think before you give an answer.

5. You get an email asking you to send your bank account numbers
Your bank will never email you and ask you to send your bank details The scam email might tell you to click on a link. The link will take you to a fake website The people will use your bank details to steal money from you.

Warning
NEVER send your bank details to anyone you do not know! NEVER send your bank details in an email!

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Pyramid schemes. For example, a chain letter

The letter asks you to give money The letter asks you to get your friends and family to give money The letter tells you that when they get enough money you will get lots of money back.

Do not pay any money. You will not get money back.

7. Be your own boss

There are ads on the internet, in newspapers, at conferences and on posters The ads promise you will earn lots of money You will pay for training or an information session. You will pay more money than you can get. You will lose money.

8.

Fax or phone us back

You get a fax. The fax tells you about weight loss programs, jobs or books to buy The scam fax tells you to fax back lots of pages The fax number is an expensive 1900 fax number.

This will cost you a lot of money.

9. Pay for special internet pages through your phone line

You will have to pay for your internet through an expensive 1900 phone number. You will get a very big phone bill and the scammers will get the money.

10. Weight loss or health programs

The program tells you to buy special medicine. The person says the special medicine will Fix diseases Make you lose weight quickly. These medicines are fake. They will cost you a lot of money. They will not cure diseases or make you lose weight quickly.

11. Pay for fake advertising

You will get a fake bill You will get a lot of phone calls asking you to pay.

Stop and think: - Did I order this advertising? - Did I sign anything? - Did someone say yes and sign something for me? This might happen when you work in a company. 10

More fact sheets and information Consumer Affairs Victoria

Address 113 Exhibition Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Phone Mail GPO Box 123 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Fax (03) 8684 6295 1300 55 81 81

Interpreter National Relay Service

131 450 133 677

Email

consumer@justice.vic.gov.au

Website

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au

This information is written in Easy English. You might need more information about the law. You can ask Consumer Affairs Victoria for more information. 11

Version 3. Updated February 2011. Easy English fact sheet produced by Scope, July 2008.

Look at the Easy English Writing Style Guide for information about the format and writing style of this document. You can find more information at http://www.scopevic.org.au or phone (03) 9843 2000.

The Picture Communication Symbols 1981-2008 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Used with permission.

COMPIC is used with permission. You can find more information about COMPIC at http://www.scopevic.org.au.

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