SYDNEY, Oct 13 (NNN-AAP) – Australian farmers and rural businesses are warned of a surge in scams, targeting the agricultural sector, particularly regarding heavy machinery purchases.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the country’s peak consumer protection body, said yesterday that, reports to their Scamwatch have shown, Australian farm businesses have lost more than 1.2 million Australian dollars (about 753,000 U.S. dollars) to scammers in Jan-Aug, an increase of 20 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
Tractors and heavy machinery sales made up the bulk of the scams, with losses topping one million Australian dollars (about 627,000 U.S. dollars).
“Scammers were highly sophisticated in the ways they impersonate a business – some fake websites have ABNs (Australian Business Number) for instance – which is why we are urging farmers and business owners to be alert to the scam risks, and do extra checks to avoid getting caught out,” ACCC deputy chair, Mick Keogh, said, in a statement.
The regulatory body urged businesses to take precautions against any seller whose prices seem too good to be true, and not to pay up front, instead, to insist on payment after delivery.
The ACCC also reminded the farmers not to provide too much personal information, as scammers are targeting more than just money.
“Legitimate sellers will only ever ask for enough information to deliver what you’ve ordered, so it is important not to give too much personal information over the phone or online, as you may fall victim to identity theft,” Keogh added.– NNN-AAP
