Scammers are having a field day during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With millions of people in lockdown spending more time on the internet it is no wonder that Scamwatch has received a staggering 24,000 reports of stolen personal information this year alone, an increase of 55 per cent compared with the same time last year.

In the Northern Rivers, NBN themed scams are one of most common scams reported to Scamwatch, with more than 2,300 reported between January and June this year, amounting to losses of $320,624.

NBN Co has partnered with Scamwatch to raise awareness on the evolving nature of scams and provide tips for how the community can stay safe, with free information sessions to be held nationally.

These sessions will be held online using Microsoft Teams and are available to anyone in the community that would like to learn more.

The dates and times are listed below along with the links to join the event that suits your availability. 

Webinar Option 1 - Aug 18, 2pm

NBN Scam Awareness Webinar one 2pm Tuesday Aug 18

Webinar Option 2 – Aug 19, 2pm

NBN Scam Awareness Webinar two 2pm Wednesday Aug 19

Webinar Option 3 – Aug 20, 11am

NBN Scam Awareness Webinar three 11am Thursday Aug 20

Webinar Option 4 – Aug 21, 10AM

NBN Scam Awareness Webinar four 10am Friday Aug 21

To coincide with National Scam Awareness week (17–21 August), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have released a five-episode podcast series entitled 'This is not your life'.

Produced by Julian Morrow, the creator of ABC TV’s consumer series The Checkout, the podcast contains advice on how to avoid a scammer stealing your identity and features cameos from ACCC Chair Rod Sims, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and IDCARE’s founder David Lacey.

Australians reported losing more than $22 million to scammers who also stole their personal information with people aged 25–34 reporting losing personal information more than any other age group.

ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said personal information, such as bank and superannuation details or passwords, are extremely valuable and scammers will try to steal them for their own financial gain. 

"Our increased use of technology has created more opportunities for them to do so," she said.

Ms Rickard added that scammers are attempting to steal a range of other documents, or the numbers associated with them, including passports, driver licences, credit cards, tax statements, utility bills or Medicare cards, so that they can impersonate their victim.

Once a scammer has that information they can then use it to access individuals' bank accounts or superannuation, take out loans under their names and impersonate them on social media to try to get money from family and friends.

“Never give your personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know or trust via email, text, social media or over the phone,” Ms Rickard said.

If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, contact IDCARE on 1300 432 273. 

IDCARE is a free government-funded service which will work with you to develop a specific response plan to your situation and support you throughout the process.