More than half a million scam attempts were detected across Australia and New Zealand in April alone, as cybersecurity experts warn fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated in targeting everyday people online.
New data from cybersecurity company TrendLife shows impersonation scams are now dominating the threat landscape, with scammers posing as trusted businesses, banks, online retailers and social media platforms to steal money and personal information.
Business impersonation scams made up nearly 60 percent of all SMS scams detected across Australia and New Zealand during April, making it the region’s biggest cyber threat.
Experts say scammers are increasingly sending fake emails and text messages pretending to be delivery companies, online platforms, banks or service providers. Many messages claim there is a problem with an account, payment or booking and pressure people to urgently click links or verify information.
Researchers say fake Meta and Facebook account violation emails targeting business owners and advertisers are among the growing threats being tracked across the region.
Shopping scams are also surging, accounting for more than half of all scam websites detected during the month. Cybersecurity analysts say fake online stores and heavily discounted products are being used to lure victims into entering payment details on fraudulent websites.
Consumers are being urged to watch for suspicious website addresses, poor reviews and online stores with limited contact information.
Financial scams are also becoming harder to detect, with fraudsters mimicking legitimate security alerts from banks, PayPal and Apple accounts. Many of the scams warn users about fake unauthorised transactions or security breaches in an attempt to obtain login credentials and two-factor authentication codes.
Romance scams continue to thrive online, making up more than a quarter of scam websites operating across Australia and New Zealand. Experts say scammers often build trust through online relationships before inventing emergencies and requesting money transfers.
Cybersecurity analysts warn scammers are moving away from obvious spam tactics and instead using highly targeted impersonation methods that closely resemble real services and organisations.
Authorities are encouraging people to avoid clicking suspicious links, verify messages directly through official websites or apps, and never provide passwords or security codes through email or text messages.
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