Sporadically, we receive reports of emails falsely claiming to be from COTA Australia. These scams may suggest you have won a prize or a free health monitoring kit and you need to update your personal details or payment details to qualify for the gift . There may be other variations to this spam message.
These messages or requests are not from COTA.
These phishing scams attempt to impersonate trusted organisations in order to get you to click on links so they can gain access to your details.
Below is a collection of resources for you to read or utilise if you suspect you may have been scammed.
What to do if you receive one of these messages:
• Do not click on any links or respond.
• If you are unsure whether a message is legitimate, forward it to [email protected] and our team can advise you.
• Alternatively, delete the email or message.
Helpful resources:
If you believe you have been scammed, contact your bank or financial institution immediately, and report the incident to Scamwatch.
For any concerns about communications from COTA, please contact us at [email protected].
Scamwatch – Tips on how to spot and avoid scams: CLICK HERE
Australian Government – Cyber safe actions: CLICK HERE
Scamwatch – Information about Phishing scams: CLICK HERE
Australian Cyber Security Centre – Personal Cyber Security Guides: CLICK HERE
Scamwatch – Report a Scam: CLICK HERE
Services Australia – video on Identifying and reporting scams: CLICK HERE
Protect yourself from SCAMS:
Scammers can target anyone, but unfortunately older Australians are frequently targeted by online scams.
Last year alone, 62,000 Australians over 65 years reported a total loss of $99 million due to fraud and scams – the largest amount lost of any age group.
To protect yourself, remember these 3 steps:
STOP – Always take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone. Scammers will create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Don’t rush to make decisions about money or sharing personal details.
CHECK – Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you are really dealing with before taking any action.
PROTECT – Act quickly it something feels wrong. The sooner you take action, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.