An Aussie woman has revealed she nearly lost $23,000 after clicking on a single text message she thought was from Australia Post. She has urged other Aussies to stay vigilant for scams ahead of the busy Black Friday and Christmas sales period.
Rebecca Callander said she received a text message that appeared to be from Australia Post requesting a payment to re-deliver her parcel. The Brisbane music artist said she had been expecting an online parcel and initially thought nothing of it.
“I clicked the link and was directed to a webpage that appeared completely legitimate – the layout, the logo, everything seemed in order,” Callander said.
“I entered my details to pay the $3.80 postal fee, thinking I had made an error with my postcode and that my package would be re-delivered.”
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Callander said she only realised something was off after confirming the payment. She said she tried to click the ‘contact information’ button on the website, only to realise it and other website tabs didn’t work.
“That’s when I contacted my bank and immediately froze all my accounts,” she said.
Callander’s bank was able to jump on her request, but if they hadn’t, Callander said there was a risk scammers could have had access to her $23,000 in savings.
Callander said she was “incredibly relieved” she didn’t lose money from the scam and said she’s built up her savings after years of DJing weddings.
“It’s infuriating to think that some business or platform I interacted with at some point likely leaked or sold my personal information. I felt like a fool,” she said.
“I only narrowly avoided having my account compromised because I acted quickly, but I can imagine many others falling prey to this scam.”
Have you fallen victim to a scam? Share your story with tamika.seeto@yahooinc.com
Australia Post issues warning
An Australia Post spokesperson told Yahoo Finance the postal delivery service would “never contact anyone via SMS or email asking for personal or financial information or payments”.
“We’re seeing a greater public awareness of scams and cybersecurity, however we encourage customers to be aware of how to spot a scam, including looking for a non-Australia Post web address and unusual sense of urgency,” the spokesperson said.
“If customers receive a suspicious text or email message that appears to be from Australia Post, we encourage them to report it to scams@auspost.com.au and delete it immediately.
“Customers can contact 13POST for help and support and head to the Australia Post website for important information about how to spot a phishing scam.”
Interparcel CEO Steve Zammit said scammers had become more sophisticated and would often try to exploit consumers around major sales events, including Black Friday and Christmas.
“Shoppers should be extra cautious of unsolicited communications as we approach these peak sales periods, especially those overly demanding, requesting immediate payment or asking for personal information,” he said.
“If something doesn’t seem right, such as an email address or tone of voice, you should always verify the legitimacy of emails or messages by contacting the company directly through official channels, such as their website, customer service line or mobile apps.
“The key is to remain vigilant, trust your instincts, and avoid engaging with unverified sources.”
Callander has shared her scam experience online and said she hoped to “reassure others who might be too embarrassed to admit they’ve been scammed”.
“However, I do receive a lot of criticism from people calling me ‘stupid’ or a ‘dumb blonde,’ which could discourage others from sharing their own experiences,” she said.
She recommended people avoid interacting with unsolicited emails, messages or letters.
“I no longer click on any links and instead use apps like the official Australia Post app to track my deliveries. If I receive a message from an unknown number, I simply ignore it,” she said.
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