Test yourself: Can you spot a scam?

How scam-aware are you? Take The Post's quiz to find out.

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Question 1

You’ve found a bargain on Facebook Marketplace and the seller offers to drop it round if you pay first. Which of these payment options offers buyer protection?

Bank transfer

PayPal’s goods and services option

PayID

PayPal’s friends and family option

PayPal’s goods and services option comes with Buyer Protection. Friends and family doesn’t – and PayPal warns that a seller pushing you towards it could be a scammer. Cyber.gov.au also advises against direct bank deposits or money transfers because money sent that way is rarely recovered.

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Question 2

You’re selling something online. A buyer says they’ve already paid and emails you a link to enter your bank details so the money can be released. What do you do?

Enter your details, since the page looks legitimate

Go back to the platform itself and see whether the sale shows as paid

Check the email address matches the platform’s

Reply to the email and ask them to confirm

The email and the page can both be faked – right down to the banner and the chat box. Go back to the platform itself and check the transaction there rather than following links or moving the deal into private messages or email.

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Question 3

Your phone rings and the caller ID shows your local police station. The caller starts asking you to confirm personal details. What do you know for sure?

It’s genuine if they already know your name and address

It’s genuine, because caller ID can’t be faked

It’s genuine as long as they don't ask for money

Nothing, because caller ID can be faked

Scammers can manipulate caller ID to make a call look like it’s coming from a police station or another reputable organisation. If you’re unsure, hang up and call police back on a number you’ve found yourself. SAPOL also says police will never call you out of the blue and accuse you of a crime.

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Question 4

Someone claiming to be from your bank is on the phone. A verification code lands on your phone and they ask you to read it out. What now?

Read out the first few digits only

Text the code back instead of saying it aloud

Hang up, because no legitimate organisation asks for that code

Read it out, since they’re the ones who sent it

That code is the last thing standing between a scammer and your account. A legitimate organisation won’t ask you to hand over your MFA code.

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Question 5

It’s 11pm on a Saturday. You’ve just bank-transferred $400 to a Marketplace seller and realised you’ve been scammed. What do you do?

Message the seller and give them a chance to make it right

Wait until Monday and call your bank when they open

Report it to police first, then sort the bank out afterwards

Contact your bank straight away

Every hour counts. Contact your bank straight away and report it afterwards at cyber.gov.au, to Scamwatch or at any police station.

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You need a scam refresher. Check out the ScamWatch website to get more info on how to keep yourself safe from scams.

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You're scam aware! But you can always learn more by going to the ScamWatch website.