What’s new with scams? More than you might think. Scammers are always looking for new ways to catch people out and scams aren’t always easy to spot, so here’s the latest advice from Consumer and Business Services (CBS) to help you stay alert and avoid the scammers’ tricks.

Are you at risk?

South Australians aged 55 or over lost more than $7.3 million to scams in 2024, according to Scamwatch. Around 56% of scam losses in SA were reported by males, but anyone is a potential target for scammers. The top three contact methods by scammers for this age group last year were email, text message and phone call. No one can afford to be complacent when it comes to scam protection.

Celebrity endorsements

Have you ever been tempted to buy something or make an investment based on an advertisement featuring a celebrity? Scammers use fake endorsements by celebrities because they hope people will see the celebrity as relatable or an expert on the topic and sign up. Scammers can also create ‘deepfakes’ of the celebrity, where the person’s image and voice seem real.

So how can you tell the difference between a genuine promotion and a scam?

If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any investment offer that promises big returns. The biggest scam losses reported by South Australians in 2024 were to dodgy investments, so see Scamwatch’s advice to avoid investment scams.

Before clicking on a link to purchase a product or service, check out the company first. Type the website and the word ‘scam’ or ‘review’ into a search engine, which may show if the offer is a sham.

Romance scams

You don’t have to be looking for love to fall victim to a romance scam. While dating websites are a common place for romance scams to begin, scammers also look for single seniors to befriend via social media, and over time they build up trust before they say they’re falling in love.

If an online admirer asks you for financial help for any reason, cease contact immediately, no matter how genuine they sound.

Scammers use fake profile pictures and information, so check to see if your online love interest really is who they say they are. Run a reverse-image search on Google or TinEye of your admirer’s photos. Follow the prompts to either upload the person's image or paste the image URL into the search tool. (Or try googling how to if need be). And if they keep making excuses for why they can’t meet you in person or video chat, that’s another red flag.

Read more about romance scam warning signs.

IT support

Scammers claiming to fix technical issues are still catching out many South Australians. Be very wary if you receive an email, pop-up message or phone call from someone claiming to be from a well-known company, creating a sense of urgency for you to act to fix an issue with your account, computer or phone.

The scammer may instruct you to download software or an app over the phone, and if you go ahead, this could give the scammer remote access to your computer. They could then seek to access you bank accounts. It’s crucial you never share banking information, passwords or two-factor identification codes when contacted out of the blue.

See more tips to avoid remote access scams.

If you think you’ve been scammed

Act quickly to stop further damage.

  • Contact your bank or credit card provider immediately so you don’t lose any more money.
  • Contact IDCARE. They can help you make a plan (for free) to help fix the damage. Call 1800 595 160 or visit idcare.org to find out more.
  • Report the scam to Scamwatch, or report a cybercrime to ReportCyber.
  • If you need someone to talk to, reach out to family and friends or contact Lifeline (phone 13 11 14) or Beyond Blue (phone 1300 22 4636).

More advice

For more tips to help you stay ahead of scammers, visit Scamwatch.