Scams Awareness Network

Other updates relevant for small business

We would like to share some scams information with you as part of National Scams awareness week.

It is important for small business to be aware of scams as more businesses are moving online and using digital tools as part of their operations.

National Scams Awareness Week 2020

National Scams Awareness week, which is part of a national campaign by the Scams Awareness Network.

With this year’s theme being scams and identity theft, the campaign will empower audiences to protect their personal and financial information in an increasingly digital environment.

This is particularly important for small business, many of whom use online and digital tools to run their business and sell things.

 

On Thursday 20 August we will release information on hacking and malware, including a Small Business Information Network email that explains a key scam that targets businesses – known as business email compromise scams.

Scammers often target small businesses. In fact In fact the ACCC’s Targeting scams report found that business email compromise scams caused the largest losses of any scam type in 2019, with $132 million lost.

Business email compromise scams trick a person into paying invoices to scammers’ bank accounts instead of the legitimate account. This can mean a small business either misses out on getting paid or pays a scammer instead of their supplier.

 

On each day of Scam Awareness Week we will focus on a different scam category.                                                                                                                                                   

 

We encourage you to share this information with your members. They can visit our campaign webpage and share content from our social media accounts during Scams Awareness Week:

• campaign webpage: scamwatch.gov.au/scamsweek2020
• Scamwatch Twitter: @Scamwatch_gov
• ACCC Facebook: ACCC Consumer Rights

We will also launch a series of podcasts throughout the week which can be accessed on our campaign webpage.

 

If you or your members have any questions or would like to join the campaign as a partner, please email: ScamsAwarenessNetwork@accc.gov.au.

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