Scams
Easy English fact sheet
2025
You might need help to read
this fact sheet.
A friend, family member or support person
can help you.
What is a scam?
A scam is a trick to get money from you.
Scams can look like they are from a real company.
When an offer seems too good to be true,
then it could be a scam.
This book talks about people who try to scam you.
It might be
- one person
- a group of people.
Be careful when the offer says
- you will get lots of money if you do
what they ask - you will get a free present or prize from a
competition that you did not enter.
What can you do?
- Do not say yes or pay money to people you do
not know. Do not let people rush you. - Stop and think.
- Take your time.
- Make sure information or bills are real.
How to find out more information
- Talk to your friends and family.
- Look at the company’s website.
- Look at these websites and phone numbers
- website www.scamwatch.gov.au
website www.scamnet.wa.gov.au
or
phone 1300 30 40 54
or
website www.idcare.org
or
- phone 1800 595 160
There are many different scams
This fact sheet talks about 6 different scams.
There are other scams.
1. You are a winner! page 5
2. Buy shares or property page 5
3. Send your bank numbers in an email page 6
4. Pay for fake advertising page 7
5. Romance scam page 7
6. Rebate scam page 8
1. You are a winner!
You get a letter or email or text message.
It says You are a winner!
- The message asks you to pay money to get a prize.
- The message asks you to ring an expensive
phone number to get a prize. For example,
1900 phone numbers.
There is probably no prize.
Stop and think.
Did I enter this competition?
No I did not. It is a scam.
2. Buy shares or property
The people
- say they are financial or investment advisers
- promise you will get lots of money back.
The people will charge you a very high price.
You will pay a lot more money than you should for
the property or shares.
It is a scam.
3. Send your bank numbers in an email
You get an email asking for your bank numbers.
The email says it is from a bank.
- No bank sends emails to ask for your bank details.
- The scam email might tell you to click on a link.
The link will take you to a fake website. - The people will use your bank numbers to steal
money from you.
It is a scam.
Warning
Never send your bank details to anyone
you do not know.
Never send your bank details in an email.
4. Pay for fake advertising
- You get a fake bill.
- You get lots of phone calls asking
you to pay for something.
Stop and think
- Did I order this?
- Did I sign anything?
- Did someone sign something for me?
This is a scam.
5. Romance scam
- You meet a person online.
- The person sends you emails or calls
you. The person asks you to give them money
for something.
Warning
Do not
- give your bank details
- send money to a person you have not
met face to face.
This is a scam.
Listen to warnings from friends and family.
6. Rebate scam
•A person emails or phones you.
- The person says they are from a bank or
the government. - The person says they owe you money and want
you to pay a fee so you can get the money.
Warning
- Check where the person is from.
- Call the bank or goverment.
- Do not
- give your bank details
- pay money to get money back.
This is a scam.
Consumer Protection WA
More fact sheets and information
List of fact sheets in Easy English
- Buying Furniture
- Contracts
- Lay-by
- Phone and door to door sales
- Renting - starting a tenancy
- Renting - during a tenancy
- Renting - ending a tenancy
- Refunds, replacements and repairs
- Scams
- Services
- Shopping tips
Phone 1300 30 40 54
Mail Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
Interpreter 131 450
National Relay Service 133 677
Email consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au
Website www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au
This information is written in Easy English.
You might need more information about the law.
You can ask Consumer Protection WA.
Updated February 2025.
Easy English fact sheet updated by
Consumer Protection WA.
Look at Clear Written Communications -
The Easy English Style Guide for
information about the format and writing
style of this document.
You can find more information at
www.scopevic.org.au or
phone 03 9843 2000.
© Scope (Aust) Ltd. You may use this document for your own
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document for any other purpose, and must not copy, reproduce,
digitise, communicate, adapt, modify the document or any part
of it (or authorise any other person to do so) without the prior
consent of Scope (Aust) Ltd.
Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre
wrote the Easy English. August 2016 www.scopevic.org.au.
To see the original contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.
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