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As scams evolve, so can you

As scams continue to evolve, it’s important to stay on top of the latest information.

Here are some tips for staying protected against some of the most common scams impacting Australians today and red flags to watch out for.

What can you do to stay protected?

Anyone can fall victim to a scam. As well as learning more about the different types of scams and how to spot them, start a conversation with family members or friends. You might know the red flags to watch out for, but do your loved ones? Raising awareness and educating yourself and others are important steps to help combat scams and even prevent them from happening in the first place.

Three scams to watch out for

Impersonation scams

Have you ever received a call and it just didn’t feel right? It may have been part of an impersonation scam, which is when a scammer impersonates a bank or other service company by phone or SMS, asking you to authorise transactions, make a payment, or provide personal information.

According to the Australian Government’s Anti-Scam Centre, three in four reported scams include some form of impersonation of a legitimate entity1.

So how can you be sure next time that person calling you is really from where they say they’re from? Here’s a few things to remember:

  • most financial institutions will never ask you to transfer funds to another account
  • never share passwords with anyone
  • avoid using phone numbers or links from text messages
  • check contact information using a trusted source such as the company’s website.

Investment scams

As of 9 November 2023, Australians have lost $240 million to investment scams2. Investment scams are often sophisticated which means they can be hard to spot. Investment opportunities offering fast results and big returns can have the potential makings of a scam.

Common investment scams include:

  • unsolicited investment offers such as cryptocurrency, fake corporate or treasury bonds, and fake share IPOs (Initial Public Offerings), claiming to be from reputable businesses
  • fake endorsement of an investment or other business opportunities from celebrities
  • early access to superannuation with a fee.

Buyer/seller scams

Buying or selling on an online selling platform is great when it’s quick and hassle-free. But scammers are popping up everywhere, so it’s harder to stay safe online. Here are five red flags to look out for:

  • being approached by someone who has no profile photo
  • the price seems too good to be true
  • a request for personal information such as your phone number or email
  • the buyer overpays for an item and wants you to refund the excess amount
  • the buyer wants to pay using a gift card or wants to send a prepaid shipping label.

 

1scamwatch.gov.au

2scamwatch.gov.au as at 9 November 2023

 

Source: Macquarie

Whether you are looking to minimise your tax, working and keen to grow/protect your wealth, thinking of retiring or are already retired, Andrew believes that affordable, personalised advice tailored to your own situation is the key to your success.

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Hardik Gupta

Senior Paraplanner

Education: Master of Business Administration (Finance & marketing) & Bachelor of technology (B.tech)

Hardik is a financial professional with an MBA in Finance and extensive expertise in financial planning. As a Senior Paraplanner, he brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to helping clients achieve their financial goals.

With significant experience in the financial industry, Hardik excels in creating detailed financial plans, performing comprehensive financial analyses, and supporting financial advisors with client portfolio management. His strong background in finance provides him with a robust understanding of market dynamics, investment strategies, and risk management, enabling him to deliver tailored solutions that align with each client’s unique needs.

In his free time, Hardik enjoys spending quality time with his family, biking, playing snooker, and exploring new culinary delights through cooking.

Mayank Manta

Team Leader

Master’s of Commerce & Bachelor of Commerce

Mayank has 8 years experience in the Financial Services industry, with extensive understanding and in-depth knowledge of Financial Planning.

Mayank enjoys systems and numbers, ensuring that every step that needs to be followed gets done and every step that is unnecessary be removed from the process. Being an open, honest and naturally empathetic person, Mayank goes out of his way to ensure that clients, family and friends are happy and content. In his free time, Mayank enjoys spending quality time with my family, creating lasting memories with the people who matter most to him.

Another activity he enjoys is travelling – exploring new places and experiencing different cultures is something that excites him.

Jack Wyer.

Financial Adviser

Bachelor of Business – Major, Financial Planning

Jack Wyer is a Financial Planning Graduate who has recently commenced his Professional Year with Verity Wealth Solutions. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Majoring in Financial Planning, Jack has demonstrated high achievement, receiving merit awards in both 2021 and 2022. Jack’s passion for helping others and his desire to see others succeed financially have been the driving forces behind his chosen career pathway.

Driven by his passion for financial well-being and his innate ability to connect with others, Jack is dedicated on making an impact on the lives of others. Through his expertise, empathy, and commitment, he strives to empower people to achieve their financial goals.

Alongside his financial planning endeavours, Jack finds joy in spending quality time with friends and family and wants to slowly visit new countries along the way. Jack is also an avid Soccer player, actively playing for a local team. When it comes to supporting a team, Jack goes for Tottenham in the English Premier League.

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