Warning issued over new loyalty points scam

There has been a sharp rise in these types of schemes, which appear to be sent by a legitimate company.

ACMA has seen messages urging customers to click a link in order to redeem points from Telstra, Optus, Coles, Woolworths and other brands that have well known loyalty schemes.

The link will take customers to a fake website that imitates the real thing, and often ask them to enter login details or financial information.

However, there are some tell-tale signs to help you spot a scam.

The first is the sense of urgency, any message claiming loyalty points or bonuses are about to expire is likely to be fake.

The second is an incorrect website address. While the site may look legitimate on first glance and include the brand’s logo – the URL is likely to have some inaccuracies such as “misspellings, unusual words or random letters and numbers,” ACMA said.

The best thing for customers to do if they are unsure is to stop and check before clicking any link and entering any details.

If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately, and notify the telco or company the message appeared to have come from.