![HAVE YOU BEEN HACKED?](https://cdn.magzter.com/1385594623/1668731754/articles/PlsBvUntb1669720273989/HAVE-YOU-BEEN-HACKED.jpg)
Scam activity is on the rise. Companies from Optus to Medibank have suffered breaches in recent months, leaving millions of customers vulnerable to having their private information, and money, stolen.
Last year alone, Australians lost over $2 billion to sophisticated scams with the figure only set to rise. So what can we do to protect ourselves? The answer, according to Tim Falinski, managing director of cybersecurity company Trend Micro, is education.
“There has never been a more important time to know the telltale signs of a scammer,” Tim says, warning con artists have continued to evolve and update their tactics.
Trend Micro research shows the most common cons circulating are: romance scams where criminals create fake profiles on social media and dating apps to look for victims; online shopping scams via online stores offering too-good-to-be-true sales that lure people into buying items that never arrive; phishing scams sent by email, text or fake websites designed to steal your credit card information and passwords; and investment and crypto scams using celebrity endorsements and promises of risk-free returns to trick people into downloading harmful apps.
This story is from the November 28, 2022 edition of New Idea.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 28, 2022 edition of New Idea.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Humphrey B. Bear's BIG COMEBA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/P72kJIQKM1725175408283/HUMPHREY-B-BEARS-BIG-COMEBA.jpg)
Humphrey B. Bear's BIG COMEBA
KEEPING UP WITH THE KIDS, THE AUSTRALIAN ICON IS NOW A YOUTUBE SENSATION
![Barry Du Bois 'EVERY SECOND WITH THEM IS PRECIOUS'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/YNRJsXV9I1725175241155/BARRY-DU-BOIS-EVERY-SECOND-WITH-THEM-IS-PRECIOUS.jpg)
Barry Du Bois 'EVERY SECOND WITH THEM IS PRECIOUS'
THE STAR IS STAYING STRONG FOR HIS CHILDREN
![Celia Pacquola HOW MOTHERHOOD CHANGED ME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/Z9ao-BMt-1725175064514/CELIA-PACQUOLA-HOW-MOTHERHOOD-CHANGED-ME.jpg)
Celia Pacquola HOW MOTHERHOOD CHANGED ME
THE COMEDY STAR IS READY FOR THE TERRIBLE TWOS
![SHEAR success!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/EvKHWRnAV1725174955531/SHEAR-SUCCESS.jpg)
SHEAR success!
MEET THE FEMALE SHEEP SHEARERS TEACHING MEN NEW TRICKS
![Kevin & Sandra LOVE IS ON THE HORIZON!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/qIbAD_wjf1725174812291/KEVIN-SANDRA-LOVE-IS-ON-THE-HORIZON.jpg)
Kevin & Sandra LOVE IS ON THE HORIZON!
CAN A NEW ROMANCE TURN HIS LUCK AROUND?
![LEAVE LARRY ALONE!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/Nn7uh2XY51725174616587/LEAVE-LARRY-ALONE.jpg)
LEAVE LARRY ALONE!
TV STAR FACES A CONCERNING THREAT
![Wills' plea to Zara 'KATE AND I NEED YOU'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/1iM-og0YL1725174347947/WILLS-PLEA-TO-ZARA-KATE-AND-I-NEED-YOU.jpg)
Wills' plea to Zara 'KATE AND I NEED YOU'
THE PRINCE OF WALES TURNS TO HIS COUSIN
![PAGE IS ON THE WARPATH!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/wdIkah7fH1725174114467/PAGE-IS-ON-THE-WARPATH.jpg)
PAGE IS ON THE WARPATH!
HER SHOW SLEDGING HAS SCOTTY FURIOUS
![Bec warns Mia 'DON'T BE REPEAT MY MISTAKES'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/H0NZ8-GNo1725173959779/BEC-WARNS-MIA-DONT-BE-REPEAT-MY-MISTAKES.jpg)
Bec warns Mia 'DON'T BE REPEAT MY MISTAKES'
THIS MOTHER KNOWS BEST WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPOTLIGHT
!['LEGACY IS MY FAMILY'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5007/1814685/7-NGl2YxS1725173721979/LEGACY-IS-MY-FAMILY.jpg)
'LEGACY IS MY FAMILY'
WAR WIDOW SHIRLEY PROUDLY SERVES THE NATIONAL CHARITY