Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated technology to make fraudulent calls, emails and messages appear legitimate. We explain the new warning signs and the practical steps Australian seniors and small businesses can take to protect themselves.

When Australians think about online scams, we often picture a lone criminal behind a computer sending fraudulent emails or messages and hoping someone will fall for it. The reality can be very different. Across parts of South-East Asia, organised criminal networks have developed large-scale scam centres — facilities that contain hundreds or even thousands of people who systematically target victims around the world. Their product, is fraud.

Online scams are constantly evolving, and a new one is currently targeting Australians through something that appears harmless — free community classes. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a warning about a scam spreading through social media that tricks people into installing malware on their phones or computers. The scam often promotes “free tai chi classes”, or similar, activities like dancing, walking, or hiking. Here's how you can avoid

A recent A Current Affair investigation uncovered a heartbreaking story of how a man lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to online romance scammers. After his death, his ex-wife found bank statements, receipts and tens of thousands of dollars in gift cards sent to scammers he believed were love interests. He even took out a reverse mortgage of $150,000 to continue funding the relationships, despite having very real financial needs at home.

Scams are getting smarter. But thankfully, so are we. Across Australia, seniors are being targeted more frequently than ever before. However, most scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, they become much easier to spot. Let’s calmly walk through the five most common scams happening right now.

At Arafura Consulting & Media, we don’t write this blog to chase clicks, trends, or scare people into buying things they don’t need. We write it because technology is now part of everyday life, and too many people are being left to figure it out alone. Learn more about what we do.

Online dating can be a wonderful way to meet new people, but it’s also become one of the most common hunting grounds for scammers. Every week, Australians lose millions to “romance scams”, and the numbers are rising fast. In fact, they’re the second fastest growing scam, outpaced only by cryptocurrency investment scams. Here's how you can date online and stay safe.