Cyber thieves have Australian farmers in their sights, “causing substantial financial losses and emotional devastation”.
‘Scammers will often have an excuse as to why machinery can’t be inspected in person and that is a red flag for any buyer.’Scammers employ sophisticated methods to make a fake business look convincing, such as listing ABNs on fake websites, providing a mock sale contract, answering questions about the machine, and offering a free trial period after a deposit is made into a fake escrow account.
Keogh urged farmers and small business owners to take extra steps to verify a business is legitimate before making an expensive purchase online, such as inspecting machinery in person or through live video.“Scammers will often have an excuse as to why machinery can’t be inspected in person and that is a red flag for any buyer,” he said.
Requests to pay upfront should not be trusted, either. “Ask to pay at the time of delivery or pickup.”Farmers should also conduct a quick Google search of the wording of the advertisement and verify a business is real by researching its physical address or calling a nearby business. If the price is cheaper than the average market rate, the deal looks too good to be true or if you are being pressured to make a payment, it is most likely a scam, Keogh said.
“Legitimate sellers will only ever ask for enough information to deliver what you’ve ordered, so it is important not to give too much personal information over the phone or online as you may fall victim to identity theft.”One in three Australian households has had personal information stolen by cybercriminals, according to a cybersecurity study by global IT association ISACA.
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