14 Nov 2024
Did you know that 85% of all people experience some sort of digital scam attempt? If you are an expat and regularly send money online to Bangladesh from Australia, keep reading this blog to learn about the top online scams you should know.
Australia is a land of opportunities, but it also has a lot of scammers. Here are the most common ones that Bangladeshi expats should know about.
Many Bangladeshi expatriates within Australia looking for employment might be keen on job offers, making them ideal bait for fraud artists. The fraud artists post phony job offers in job marketplaces or personal social accounts and portray them as high-paying jobs with few requirements. Once you express interest, you must pay for placement, visa fees, and other non-existent services.
Candidates seeking employment should never make any payments to such employers at any time during recruitment.
Phishing is among the most rampant forms of online fraud, especially in Australia. The fraudster sends messages or emails that give the impression that it is official. These cons appear legitimate and mirror banks, utility providers, and the Australian government. Usually, these messages contain a link or an attachment to steal personal details, like banking and credit card information and passwords.
Always check the legitimacy of the email or the message before clicking any link or filling out sensitive details. Check the common phishing signs such as suspicious email addresses, ungrammatical phrases within the email, and strange email patterns. Never trust any email providing the option of cheap online money transfer from Australia to Bangladesh. Whenever in doubt, resolve the issue by contacting the company in question’s official phone number, but not the one in the message or email.
Online dating can help someone befriend new people but can also make them prone to romance scams. Fraudsters usually use fake profiles to get people to trust them on various dating websites or phone applications. Later, after making you trust them, they start raising money issues, claiming they have financial emergencies or need the money for traveling.
Be cautious when communicating with someone online. If that person reacts to what you say with extreme emotion or asks you for money, you should not trust them, even if their story sounds convincing.
Most investment frauds target people who look to invest their savings or remittances. They will approach you with promising "too good to be true" investment opportunities in stocks, cryptocurrency, or real estate.
Read as much as you can from the story of a similar investment you are interested in and acquire financial professional advice before investing in any project.
These scammers also take advantage of those who wish to immigrate or remain in Australia through fictitious visas or immigration services. They can demand hefty service fees or request sensitive information, like your passport or bank account details.
Source services only through official government websites and registered migration agents. Be careful if any service provider promises a guaranteed visa approval and demands upfront payment but doesn't deliver legitimate services.
Read more: 5 Critical Online Scams That Every Bangladeshi in Germany Must Know
Some fake online stores offer different products with prices that are almost impossible to believe. Once you make a purchase, the product never reaches you, or the one you get is counterfeit or inferior.
Always check the credibility of the website before making any purchase. Find feedback and ratings from others who purchased from this website. Use a secure payment method, like PayPal, and never use websites that only accept wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
Charity scams typically feed on people's generosity during crises or disasters. These fraudsters or scammers approach people demanding donations for the affected victims on behalf of fictitious charities. They mainly use emotional stories or images to convince people of their authenticity.
Check the authenticity of your chosen charity by looking it up on the ACNC, and avoid unsolicited emails or social media messages.
Under this scam, you may receive an e-mail or message saying you have won a lottery prize or award, though there is no contest you have ever participated in. The scammers will email you that you must pay tax, fees, or customs charges to collect your "award." You may be tempted to fall for this as you might want to send a money transfer from Australia to Bangladesh for your loved ones in need.
Real lotteries and contests will never ask the winner to pay advance fees. If you ever receive any message asking for such a thing, ignore it and report the scam to the concerned authorities.
The scammers advertise fake listings on real estate agents' websites, asking for advance deposits or renting a property without allowing the customer a previous view of the properties. Once the advance deposits are paid, the scammer disappears.
Always inspect rental properties in person before making any payments. Use reputable real estate agents or websites, and be wary of landlords who request payment via wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
Tech support scams are usually launched by fraudsters impersonating better-known companies such as Microsoft or Apple. They tell you that your computer is infected with a virus and will fix the issue on your behalf for a charge. Sometimes, they also ask for remote access to your computer, which they use to steal personal information.
Legitimate tech companies never make unsolicited calls or send emails claiming to provide technical support. Hang the phone up if such a call reaches you, and if you have technical trouble with something, contact official channels for assistance.
ACE Money Transfer is the leading remittance-sending service, providing safe online transfers for over two decades. The firm guarantees the security of online money transfers to Bangladesh using the following procedures.
Like communication across other digital platforms, your transactions with ACE are encrypted from beginning to end. Scammers cannot enter the process and cause you any monetary harm.
In contrast to many other service providers that mostly depend on a single layer of protection, ACE uses multi-layered security, which decreases the risk of security breaches.
A corporation should collaborate with other institutions to process and collect cash to facilitate clients. Hence, ACE Money Transfer constantly collaborates with reliable and respectable providers across Bangladesh to provide accessibility to all users.
If money transfers are completed in minutes or seconds, the margin for fraud will be lower. Scammers may take advantage of delays or an extended period to finish a transfer. This is why ACE prides itself on completing transactions within minutes.
Beware of these scams and stay vigilant so you don't lose your hard-earned money to fraudsters. ACE Money Transfer is a reliable option for sending remittances. Sign up on ACE for free and send money to Bangladesh from Australia without worries.
Always research the company and avoid paying any fees during the recruitment process.
Do not click links; contact the organization directly using official contact details.
Always research the seller and use secure payment methods like PayPal before purchasing.
Verify the charity’s legitimacy through ACNC or official government charity registers.
Avoid unsolicited tech support offers; always contact official support channels directly.