SCAM Awareness Information Session

Published on 28 June 2017

SCAM AWARENESS INFORMATION SESSION
Media Release 

If in doubt, don’t!

That’s the message Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) – the state’s fair trading regulator – is giving older Victorians when it comes to staying safe online.

Gannawarra Mayor Brian Gibson says that many older Victorians are attractive targets for scammers because they often own substantial assets and have access to life savings and superannuation.

“Older Victorians are also the fastest growing online user group in the country. Many of you go online to keep in touch with your children, family and friends, to correspond via email, watch YouTube videos or catch-up TV, or to research and book travel, to name a few,” Mayor Gibson said.

CAV is working with the Public Libraries Victoria Network to reduce the detriment caused by scammers by building greater awareness and understanding of online scams amongst older Victorians.

Manager Library Services Kerri Sidorow said the library was very interested in being a part of this awareness building campaign.

“Library staff interact with a range of people on a daily basis and it is quite scary to see what people behind a phone or computer can do to unsuspecting or vulnerable members of our community,” Ms Sidorow said.

“By offering this training and helping to educate the older citizens in the community, we hope to be able to help in keeping them aware and safe from dangerous scammers.”

Scammers are professional criminals. Anyone can fall for a scam because scammers are getting smarter and using more sophisticated tricks to dupe thousands of older Victorians every year.

To learn more about common types of scams and how to avoid them, come along to a free information session presented by CAV and the Gannawarra Library Service on Tuesday 18 July, 2:00pm at the Sir John Gorton Library Kerang.

To register your attendance contact the Sir John Gorton Library Kerang on 5452 1546

For more information about scams visit consumer.vic.gov.au/scamsavvy

For more information please contact Council on 5450 9333 or visit council’s website

www.gannawarra.vic.gov.au

…ENDS…

Date: 28 June 2017

Media contact: Katrina Thorne T. 03 5450 9333 M. 0409 616 627