Industry experts reveal scam that could trap you next—protect yourself now!

In the digital age, scams have become as sophisticated as they are prevalent, and it's not just individuals who are targeted.

Even the most discerning among us can fall prey to fraudsters' cunning tactics.

An alarming trend has emerged recently: scammers are using the names and logos of trusted organisations within the automotive industry to deceive the public.


Our members, who have spent a lifetime building their nest eggs, must be vigilant to protect their hard-earned savings.

The latest scam warning comes from a prominent industry body, which has reported several new fraudulent schemes.


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Several new scams involving the automotive industry have been reported, using trusted organisations' names and logos to deceive the public. Credit: Depositphotos


These scams are convincing and distressingly invasive, involving direct debits from victims' bank accounts.

Imagine checking your bank statement only to find transactions you don't recognise, all bearing the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) logo, an organisation you trust.

The AAA's logo has been spotted on financial statements linked to these unauthorised direct debits.

But the deception doesn't stop there. Other scams include fake invoices, prize draws, and claims to be from the AAA.


These are not just simple phishing attempts; they are targeted attacks designed to exploit the credibility of established institutions to swindle money from unsuspecting individuals.

The AAA has issued a stern warning to the public: do not click on links in emails related to invoices, lotteries, or even those offering an 'unsubscribe' option.

These emails are traps that bait you into a scammer's net.

The best course of action is to delete these emails immediately.

If you notice deductions from your bank account that purport to be from the AAA, it's imperative to act swiftly.

Contact your financial institution without delay to query the charges.


It's crucial to remember that legitimate organisations will never ask for your personal or financial information via email.

In response to these fraudulent activities, the AAA has been responsible for reporting the incidents to the Australian Government's National Anti-Scam Centre.

This is a reminder that scams are a serious issue and are treated as such by authorities.

There is a recourse for those who fear these fraudulent activities may have trapped them.

Reports can be made on the Scam Watch website, a government platform dedicated to informing the public and taking action against scams.
Key Takeaways
  • Several new scams involving the automotive industry have been reported, using names and logos of trusted organisations to deceive the public.
  • Scams included fraudulent direct debits claiming to be from the AAA, with the association's logo appearing on financial statements.
  • The AAA advised the public to avoid clicking on any links in suspicious emails and delete them immediately.
  • Anyone affected by these scams is encouraged to contact their bank and to report incidents to the Australian Government's National Anti-Scam Centre through the Scam Watch website.
Have you or someone you know encountered a scam like this? What measures do you take to safeguard your personal information? Let us know in the comments below.
 

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How can withdrawals be made from your account if you did not provide your account details?
If you have a smart phone the hackers can gain access to your private information.
The hackers have been known to gain info from Govt departments like ATO and Centrelink etc. who have a lot of your personnal details.
 
One of the most persistent of the new marketing scams ( always using trusted names ) is one which promises a new item which may come from Bunnings or Supercheap or BCF or wherever completely free of charge.
The kink is that the product is indeed free and it will be delivered within a few days but, as part of the agreement, you have offered to join their scheme and have agreed to pay between $165 and $220 from your account every 2 weeks until cancellation. An additional aspect is that a cancellation fee is charged equivalent to 2 weeks of advance payment. This is immoral, fraudulent and vicious but HIGHLY LEGAL and it preys upon the uninformed.
There is a fast way to find these scams. Go to the very bottom of the advert and look at the fine print below. Ask yourself the question " Why would Bunnings be offering me a deal coming from SPARKS, NEVADA or PINEDALE, WYOMING ?"
these are all total scams
 
One of the most persistent of the new marketing scams ( always using trusted names ) is one which promises a new item which may come from Bunnings or Supercheap or BCF or wherever completely free of charge.
The kink is that the product is indeed free and it will be delivered within a few days but, as part of the agreement, you have offered to join their scheme and have agreed to pay between $165 and $220 from your account every 2 weeks until cancellation. An additional aspect is that a cancellation fee is charged equivalent to 2 weeks of advance payment. This is immoral, fraudulent and vicious but HIGHLY LEGAL and it preys upon the uninformed.
There is a fast way to find these scams. Go to the very bottom of the advert and look at the fine print below. Ask yourself the question " Why would Bunnings be offering me a deal coming from SPARKS, NEVADA or PINEDALE, WYOMING ?"
these are all total scams
If it's free, what is the fortnightly $165 - $220 charge for? That alone should tell you it's a scam.
 
If it's free, what is the fortnightly $165 - $220 charge for? That alone should tell you it's a scam.
The issue is rather neat. You are told in big letters that you have won an item. They ask you for your shipping details, so you supply your name, address, phone number and then, they ask you for your card details in order to pay the $3 to $16 shipping costs, you reply, card no., Cvv, and card origin.
At that point, you have agreed to the hidden 3 page agreement to pay their membership fee which is debited 2 weekly. As I said, your only option after the first debit is to cancel your membership and pay the cancellation fee. The first debit plus the cancellation fee more than pays for the goods you were sent.
 

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The issue is rather neat. You are told in big letters that you have won an item. They ask you for your shipping details, so you supply your name, address, phone number and then, they ask you for your card details in order to pay the $3 to $16 shipping costs, you reply, card no., Cvv, and card origin.
At that point, you have agreed to the hidden 3 page agreement to pay their membership fee which is debited 2 weekly. As I said, your only option after the first debit is to cancel your membership and pay the cancellation fee. The first debit plus the cancellation fee more than pays for the goods you were sent.
I get a ton of those emails daily, they usually look like those below with long numbers after them, but from different companies, I don't even bother opening them, I just report them as phishing scams.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL: Your Answer then to Your Prize #65289061960729231972​


Deadline is approaching! ACT Fast and grab you you item #14207673773345602513​

 
I get a ton of those emails daily, they usually look like those below with long numbers after them, but from different companies, I don't even bother opening them, I just report them as phishing scams.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL: Your Answer then to Your Prize #65289061960729231972​


Deadline is approaching! ACT Fast and grab you you item #14207673773345602513​

 
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Reactions: Pam71
So do I, the reason for my initial post is that I am totally surprised by the number of seniors who get taken in by it. It makes a very tidy profit for the owners of the scam. They are all posted by DOUBLE-CLICK who were a very nasty self regenerating virus in the early 2000s. They were fined 400 Million USD for fraud and grand theft and they disappeared. Guess who paid 3.1 Billion for their complete operation and name on Mar 11 2008.... you guessed it GOOGLE and they regenerated Double Click as an ONLINE INTERNET ADVERTISING AGENCY operating out of Flower Mound in Texas and with a subsidiary in Nevada both being states with a limited penalty system for online crime. Google is behind these scams and is paying enough cash in bribes and Senators fees to make changes to law to allow their cheating.
 
One of the most persistent of the new marketing scams ( always using trusted names ) is one which promises a new item which may come from Bunnings or Supercheap or BCF or wherever completely free of charge.
The kink is that the product is indeed free and it will be delivered within a few days but, as part of the agreement, you have offered to join their scheme and have agreed to pay between $165 and $220 from your account every 2 weeks until cancellation. An additional aspect is that a cancellation fee is charged equivalent to 2 weeks of advance payment. This is immoral, fraudulent and vicious but HIGHLY LEGAL and it preys upon the uninformed.
There is a fast way to find these scams. Go to the very bottom of the advert and look at the fine print below. Ask yourself the question " Why would Bunnings be offering me a deal coming from SPARKS, NEVADA or PINEDALE, WYOMING ?"
these are all total scams
If I did not order a product then as far as I am concerned any "free" products comes with not just strings attached but "chains" to drain as much money out of your bank account as a scammer can before you the victim wake up to the scam. Buyer beware a wolf dressed in sheep's clothing.
 
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Reactions: Mr Chips
You can't win a prize for a competition you didn't enter so it's a BIG RED FLAG that it's a SCAM. Their excuse is that it's a random selection from FB members or other social media.
Treat everything as a scam and you won't get robbed.
 

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