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SCAMwatch email alert: Scam birth, death and marriage certificate websites [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Scam birth, death and marriage certificate websites

View radar online.

Added: November 2011

SCAMwatch is warning Australians to be wary of  websites that appear official but fail to deliver on promises to provide birth, death, marriage or divorce certificates in return for a fee.  

How the scam works

  • You visit a website which falsely claims to provide fast and reliable birth, death, marriage or divorce certificates. In reality these websites cannot directly provide certificates as they are only available through official Government registries.
  • Website may look genuine and use images such as Australian flags, altered copies of Government crests and logos, pictures of Australian landmarks and links to genuine Government websites.
  • Whilst you may think you're paying for a certificate, you are actually paying for information, forms and/or web links which are freely available from official Government websites. In some cases you may receive nothing at all.
  • Scam websites commonly ask for personal and financial details such as your credit card number. Providing your credit card and personal details to scammers can lead to identity theft and credit card fraud.
  • The sites may provide a shopping cart or payment gateway which they claim is secure but is actually unsecure and unencrypted.
  • Some sites may subscribe you to ongoing payments which you weren't aware of.

Protect yourself

  • If you want to use a third party service when applying for certificates, make sure you research the provider first, look online for reviews written by other consumers and read all the terms and conditions on their website.
  • The Australian Government website www.australia.gov.au is a safe portal for finding government services, and will help to avoid unauthorised third party providers.
  • Remember that official Government registries may charge a fee for certificates but will not charge for information and forms provided freely on their website or at their customer service centres.
  • Be alert to imitation websites which misuse logos, trust marks and seals of approval also check the web address thoroughly as most Australian, state and territory government websites use the '.gov.au' extension – never .org, .net or .com.
  • Never enter your personal, credit card or banking details on a website unless you have checked it is authentic and secure. Legitimate websites which ask you to enter sensitive personal details are commonly encrypted to protect your details.
    • This is usually identified by the use of "https:" rather than "http:" at the start of the internet address.
    • This can also be identified by a closed or unbroken key icon at the bottom right corner of your browser window.
    • If these are missing or there is an open padlock or broken key icon, the website is not secure and could be a scam site.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

For official birth, death, marriage or divorce certificates, visit your relevant State or Territory registries: Australian Birth, Death & Marriages Registries.

Check out our 'Pharming' scams  page which deals with similar approaches.

SCAMwatch has also issued previous radars and a media release on scams which impersonate government:

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov.

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If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

SCAMwatch email alert: Classifieds scammers advertise smartphones and tablets online [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Classifieds scammers advertise smartphones and tablets online

View radar online.

Added: November 2011

Beware of scam online classifieds ads for smartphones, tablet devices and other small electronic items which are never delivered following payment.

Warning signs

  • A smartphone, tablet or other electronic device is advertised on an online classifieds site at a low price, often lower than comparable items advertised on the same website.
  • In many cases the scam ad will offer one of the same product free when you purchase a certain number. E.g. Buy three get one free.
  • The scammers may claim to be authorised resellers and offer 100% genuine items with genuine factory warranties.
  • The scam ads may mislead you to believe that the seller is operating out of Australian capital cities, however they are really based overseas.
  • The scammer may not have a website but will ask you to place an order via email. They will use a free email service provider for their email address.
  • The scammer will ask you to complete the sale through a wire transfer service and not via credit card.
  • Following payment you will not receive the items you have paid for.
  • When questioned, the scammer may claim that non-delivery is due to hold ups at Australian customs and may demand further payment before the products will be released. If you pay more you will never receive the items and will lose all money paid.

Protect yourself

  • Be cautious if the advertised price of a smartphone or other device looks too good to be true, it may be a scam.
  • Beware of offers for free products when you buy a certain number.
  • Don't trust the legitimacy of an ad just because it appears on a reputable online classifieds or auction website—scammers post fake ads on these too.
  • Where possible, avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer or international funds transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way. Credit card payment may offer a more secure option as banks and financial institutions can sometimes perform a 'charge back' if they believe that your credit card was billed fraudulently.
  • Do an internet search using the exact wording in the ad, including email addresses and trader names; many well-known scams can be identified this way.
  • Before committing to buy a smartphone or electronic device online speak with the manufacturer. Ask for a list of authorised online resellers especially if you require a warranty.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

See our classifieds scams page for more information on this type of scam.

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov.

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If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

Daylight Saving for the Commonweath Games

2018 might seem like an eternity away but it's time for our state leaders to step up to the mark.

They shouldn't leave their run too late because they might be in for the high jump with voters.

Despite marathon efforts to have daylight saving in Queensland, the state is still light years behind on this issue.

Being it on for the Commonwealth Games.

Otherwise, Queensland will remain one hour plus one hundred years behind.