Some scams are easy to spot, while others, not so much. You may not even notice the signs until it’s too late.

A good way to protect yourself is by being aware of the most common scams.

Remote access scams

These are generally calls to inform you that you have a computer or internet problem, and they need remote access to your device to fix the issue. The caller may try to convince you by claiming to be from a well-known company and quote a fake issue number or employee ID. Don’t fall for it, these companies will never call you unprompted to request remote access to your device. The easiest way to protect yourself is to hang up and never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your device.

Job scams

These can take many forms. Scammers may contact you to offer a high-paying job that requires little to no effort and ask you to make an upfront payment to secure it. Another type of job scam involves tricking you into receiving money in your account and passing it on to another account. A percentage of this amount will be offered to you as a commission. This is likely to be a form of money laundering making you a part of the criminal activity.

Romance scams

Scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners. They target people on online dating platforms and social media. Once they’ve gained your trust, they may ask for money, your personal details, banking information or even try to get you to do something illegal unwittingly. There are some initial warning signs to look for, such as they don’t tell you much about themselves, they ask you to keep the relationship a secret and they refuse to meet face-to-face or in-person.

Business email compromise scam

This is when a supplier, vendor or a business you know, suddenly notifies you their payment details have changed and asks you to make a payment to the new or updated account. Before making any payment to the new account, please confirm by contacting them via verified and previously used channels.

Investment scams

If you receive an unsolicited call, email or SMS about an investment opportunity that promises big payouts, quick money or guaranteed returns, it is most likely a scam. They may try to lure you in by dropping names and wild projections. Don’t make any investments without consulting your financial advisor, if you’ve got one. If the person contacting you claims to be one, first confirm they’re who they claim to be and then check if they’re registered via ASIC’s Financial Advisers Register.