Be Scam Smart

There are thousands of scams in the marketplace. Some of them are new, but most are simply new versions of scams that have been around for years.

This section provides information on common scam types, such as the Nigerian chain letter scam and overseas competition or lottery scams, and lists the different versions of these scams that have turned up in Queensland. Many of these scams use the same tactics to continue to dupe people out of their hard-earned cash.

As a quick guide, look out for:

• offers that appear too good to be true (they usually are)
• unsolicited offers or requests for money (particularly requests for small amounts of money)
• personalised letters, faxes or emails from people or businesses you don't know
• prizes from competition or lotteries you haven't entered
• cold callers offering shares in overseas companies and investment schemes
• free inclusion on business databases and websites
• mail-order goods that you haven't requested
• overseas sweepstakes, contests, lotteries or promotions'
• offers to help recover money you've lost to a scam (usually for a small fee)
• contests that require you to pay money to claim the prize
• 'official' requests for money from 'government' agencies (governments do not solicit)
• operators that go out of their way to prove the legitimacy of their offer
• operators that use a post office box or suite number but don't have a street address (this makes them harder to track down)
• letters or emails that ask for you help in exchange for large sums of money
• requests for your bank account details
• miracle cures, quick-fix remedies and cure-all products.