Getting scammed online can lead to more than losing money – some victims can end up facing criminal charges.
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Yes, the victims.
Wollongong Legal Aid is holding a cyber safety seminar next week as part of Law Week.
Megan Pikett, the solicitor in charge of the Wollongong Legal Aid Office, said the organisation has represented the victims of online scammers.
“There was one where legal aid was granted for an older man who went overseas after being enticed by free travel,” Ms Pikett said.
“He was given a suitcase to take back and it had drugs in it. That was a particularly awful example.”
Ms Pikett said a more common scam took place through dating websites.
“People are introduced to somebody and they strike up a friendship online," Ms Pikett said.
“They’re told a story about a crisis of some kind, their emotions are engaged and they hand over some money. Then they start giving a bit more money and a bit more money.”
She said several scams followed a similar path – they strung people along with the promise of an emotional or financial reward, gradually asking for more and more money.
And it’s often a older person who is getting stung, she said.
“The figures do show that older people tend to be a bit more vulnerable to online scammers,” Ms Pikett said.
“That’s why we’re focusing this workshop at older people but anybody is very welcome to come along.”
The best solution to be safe online, she said, was to be alert and skeptical and not get stung by a scammer in the first place.
“It’s one of those situations where prevention is much better than the cure because, often, when people get ripped off online the chances of getting the money back are very, very slim,” Ms Pikett said.
The workshop will be held at Wollongong Library on May 17 at 10.30am.
The workshop is free but bookings are required on 4227 7414.
