Weiters scammed

[Thryleon]

I recently got a text message from the ATO warning that unless I did X, Y and Z, my ABN would be cancelled.  I checked the ATO website and found that text messaging was one of the ways the ATO communicates with taxpayers.  I was still dubious and not too fussed about my ABN so I did nothing.  My ABN has now been cancelled.

A week or so later I got a text from CentreLink advising that I was about to get a call from a number with no caller ID and I should answer the call.  I was on another call and didn't answer.  Two weeks later I got a letter from CentreLink saying that I didn't answer their phone call and had to fill in a questionnaire.

Ms DJC got a text message last week that said, "Hi Mum, I dropped my phone in the toilet and I'm trying to dry it out.  Call me on my old number #$#%^&**+"  Both of our children still have their original mobile numbers.  A little later Ms DJC got another text saying, "I've got some bills to pay ..."  Thousands of Australians have been caught out by that scam,

The scammers are often incompetent and easy to detect.  Others are more sophisticated and can suck in the most cautious and IT savvy folk.  It's easy to sit back and say that Jacob should have known that it was a scam, but that's not how it works when you're under pressure and think that you're going to lose your money.  Banks, internet providers and the phone companies need to do a lot more to make life difficult for the scumbags that stole Jacob's money.

Sorry DJC.  that's not really good enough.

Yes these institutions need to protect people, but we all have a personal responsibility to fa t check we aren't being hoodwinked, and that is easily done simply by reaching out and talking to people.

The bank calls?  No worries take down the details of who called you and then state I will not divulge anything to you and then contact the bank on their publicly listed contact number not what is provided to you by the scammer.

The ato messages?  You call the ATO.  verify they want to talk to you.

Same goes for anything.  Unsolicited contact must be verified.

I feel for Jacob and anyone scammed but this whole its easily explained situation because I dont have time or under pressure is precisely the feeling the scammers aim to generate and then use to their advantage. 

People having moments of weakness need to recognise those moments and play cautious not simply go along with it.  Every situation is able to be fact checked.  Externalising the blame is the easy way out.  Why wasn't I protected?

Because you didn't protect yourself is the answer.

Sony got hacked.  They lost everyone's details.  They came clean told us all to change our passwords.  I failed to do so and eventually my playstation account was hacked.  It was linked to PayPal and they were able to purchase some games impersonating me.  My fault, I didn't change my password but Sony's fault for getting hacked to begin with.  Sony wore the responsibility for getting hacked.  Luckily they were good about it and refunded my money but if they weren't that was still my fault for not taking ownership of my credentials and changing my password. 

If you leave your house without locking up and someone helps themselves to your property, that's not just people's fault for being thieves or cops fault for not protecting you, that's your fault for not locking up too.