The celebrity crypto ad
You spot an online ad featuring a well-known Aussie claiming they’ve struck gold with a new crypto investment scheme. The website looks slick, the pitch sounds convincing and the financial gains are “guaranteed”. Sounds intriguing, right? Wrong.
“That’s red flag number one,” says James Roberts, CommBank’s general manager of group fraud. “Scammers now use AI to impersonate celebrities, generate fake testimonials and create realistic trading platforms to lure you in. They’ll often promise fast returns and no risk and they’ll tell you to act quickly.” Sometimes, they’ll go as far as sending you voice notes from your “broker” and offering you exclusive investment deals. But once you hand over your money, it’s gone.
“Urgent” messages from trusted brands
“Phishing is when you get an email or text message pretending to be from a company you trust—like a bank, a delivery service or a ticket seller,” says Roberts. The intention is to deceive you into disclosing sensitive information and the key giveaway is the sense of urgency these fake messages come with.
“You might get one like: ‘Your package couldn’t be delivered. Click here to update your details immediately.’ It looks legit but it’s a trap,” says Roberts. The link can lead to malware or a fake website capturing payment details and security information. “And just like that, scammers have access to your accounts.”
Sellers who push to make the sale
An online marketplace ad captures your attention—it looks convincing, with beautiful photos of limited-edition sneakers at a really low price. That’s your first warning sign. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” says Roberts.
Scammers on marketplace platforms will often pressure you for payment by stressing that “others are interested”. “It’s a tactic to make you rush,” says Roberts. “But here’s the clincher: they ask for payment by bank transfer or even crypto before you’ve even seen the shoes in person.”
Often, the sneakers never arrive and you can’t get your money back.
“Tech support” asking you to download software
There are cases where someone will call you and say they’re from your bank, telco or a software company. “This may sound legit—polite, professional and even helpful,” says Roberts. “But behind the scenes, it’s likely to be a scam.” The red flag to look out for is if they ask you to download an app or program because they’ve detected a problem with your service.
“Boom, they’re in. Now they can see everything: your emails, your bank accounts, even your passwords,” says Roberts. Before downloading anything, it’s vital that you reach out to the company directly through a verified phone number or email address from their website or app.