As we become increasingly tech savvy, the scammers in turn have more opportunity to steal money and identities from Australians. And the statistics are scary! Australians lost $81 million collectively in 2016 alone!

There are various types of scams out there and it can be overwhelming trying to distinguish if every email and phone call you receive is legitimate. So what sorts of scams should you be on the lookout for?

• Unexpected money – Scammers invent seemingly legitimate reasons to give you false hope about offers of money. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. There is no such thing as a get-rich-quick scheme, so think twice about revealing your identity and giving away personal details.

• Unexpected winnings – We’ve all experienced this one. “You have been approved to claim a total of US $8,000,000 through Australian Lotto.” How does Australian lotto even give away USD dollars? Don’t be lured by a surprise win that tricks you into giving money or personal details upfront to receive your millions.

• Fake charities – This is a cruel one. Scammers prey on generosity by impersonating genuine charities and ask for donations for relief efforts after natural disasters

• Solicitation – A subtle one often used on small businesses where you receive a phone call confirming an ad in a publication or following up on payment for an ad you have no memory of authorising. Request a purchase order and they will quickly disappear.

• Buying or selling – Not every transaction on Gumtree, eBay etc are legitimate. Scammers prey on consumers and business that are buying or selling products and services. Take care to verify the identity or credibility of the party you are dealing with.

• Attempts to gain your personal information – Scammers can use your identity to commit credit card fraud, open bank accounts or even obtain loans. Take care to keep your personal information secure