Millions of Aussies admit they’ve had their credit or debit card details stolen recently as scammers turn to more sophisticated methods.
One in six Australians have had their debit or credit card skimmed in the past 12 months alone, research from Finder has revealed.
The survey uncovered the concerning truth about credit card fraud in the country – and found some people don’t even bother reporting it.
Finder surveyed 1049 people and found 17 per cent of Aussies – which is equivalent to 3.6 million people – had been the victim of credit card fraud in the past year.
And 4 per cent of them admitted they “didn’t report it”.
Another 3 per cent of respondents said they had been scammed but didn’t realise until much later.
Rebecca Pike, Finder’s money expert, said the worrying statistics indicate scammers are becoming more sophisticated and can often operate undetected.
“It seems almost impossible for someone to steal your credentials without having your physical card, but it happens quite often,” she said.
“Phishing is one of the most common schemes scammers will use to coerce you into providing your credit card information willingly, but there are also a number of other ways scammers are targeting vulnerable individuals.”
Pike said unsecure Wi-Fi networks and card skimming machines are responsible for many of the scams.
She recommended people opt-in for phone notifications when you make transactions which will make it easier to identify fraud.
“Take every step you can to minimise the risk – don’t save passwords on sites, be really certain you can trust anywhere you enter your card into and check ATMs for skimmers,” Pike added.
“Importantly, don’t give your card information to anyone over the phone or via text or email – if someone calls and asks for your number over the phone, assume it’s a scam.”
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