Page 14 The Moorabool News – 23 November, 2021
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Sounds too good to be true? Scam More than 2000 reports of scams were received by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) during 2020-21. Requests for money transfers, phishing and fake missed call or text messages are among the top five scams targeting Victorians, according to data revealed by CAV. Promises of large sums of money, in return for an upfront payment, topped the list with 660 reports in 2020-21, compared to just 330 in the previous financial year. According to the ACCC's Scamwatch, financial scams have caused the most losses this year, so far costing Australians more than $114 million. Victorians have lost $30 million to financial scams. People aged over 65 are most likely to fall victim to financial scams. Crime Stoppers Victoria Chief Executive Stella Smith said scammers will target older people because they are less likely to tell anyone. “That’s why talking with your parents and grandparents is an important step in scam prevention.” Many people who experience a scam never report it to anyone due to feelings of shame, but it’s important to keep talking to reduce stigma and prevent scams from happening in the first place. Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne said there is no shame in being caught out by a scam. “It’s important to keep having conversations to understand the warning signs before it is too late,” she said. “Scams can cause both financial and emotional distress. The best defence is to speak out, educate yourself on what a scam looks like and continue raising awareness to prevent others falling victim.”
Victorians are encouraged to keep the conversation going by reminding their family and friends to do their research before sending any payment to online sellers and to never give money or bank details to claim a prize. To raise public awareness about financial scams and promote conversation around this issue Crime Stoppers Victoria has teamed up with Victoria Police and BankVic to produce a new podcast, “Let's Talk Scams”, a 40-minute episode offering listeners valuable scam prevention information. The public is urged to contact their bank immediately and make a report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au if they have been scammed or suspect they may have been targeted by scammers. Further information about scams and how to protect yourself can be found at consumer.vic.gov.au/scams.
Appeal to remember those less fortunate The candy canes, cards and wrapping paper are already on the supermarket shelves and that means Christmas is only weeks away. It also means the annual Cafs (Child and Family Services, Ballarat) Christmas Appeal has been launched. This year the demand for support has never been greater and the organisation is seeking to support in excess of 600 children and their families across the Central Highlands, including Moorabool. Cafs CEO, Wendy Sturgess said they know families are experiencing the compounding impact of two years living through the COVID-19 pandemic and this has, in many cases, altered their ability to earn an income. “The harsh reality is that Christmas gifts are a discretionary item, so they are the first thing to go if a family is facing a choice between day to day expenses and gifts for children,” she said.
At this time of year, not only do the day to day expenses continue to come in, but the additional pressure of covering annual back to school costs can push some households to the brink. Christmas presents are a luxury that has to be sacrificed. Cafs are encouraging donors to consider making either cash donations or contributing gift cards and vouchers this year instead of physical gifts. The benefit of these types of contributions means that they can be given to children of any age or gender and the need to quarantine donated goods, in line with current COVID-19 risk procedures, is eliminated. Cafs provides support to children and their families through a diverse range of programs including Kinship Care, Foster Care, Youth Care and Family Support. Donations to Cafs can be made via the website at www.cafs. org.au or by contacting Cafs on 5337 3333.
About Cafs: Cafs is a proudly independent community service organisation with no religious affiliation. They are governed by the community they support. For over 156 years, the heart of our service has been the wellbeing of children, young people and their families. Today, that commitment stands strong, and we extend our inclusive and accessible programs to include everyone who needs assistance. Cafs has offices in Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Daylesford and Ararat.