A READER has alerted us to a scam regarding a traffic infringement notice.
Colin* from Cooma in NSW received a traffic notice infringement for $241.58 by email.
Tech savvy and sharp-eyed, he quickly realised it was a scam.
Some of the tell tale signs included:
- the person sending the email had a Hotmail email address!
- the word zipcode was used instead of post code - zipcode is an American term!
- the address format was wrong - using month, day then year (another American way of doing things)
The notice also included a request for Colin to download a notice attachment to his computer - which he was wise enough not to do.
Attachments from risky sources can download malware - malicious programs - including spyware that seeks to access your personal details and ransomware which locks up your computer until you pay a ransom to criminal operating the scam. Even if you pay the ransom there's no guarantee they will unlock your computer - another great reason to always have your important data backed-up to a separate device such as a usb stick or portable hard drive.
On its website the Office of State Revenue states:
- OSR will never send you an email asking for sensitive financial information.
- We do not send fines in the first instance by email or SMS - fines are issued by post, in person or placed on a vehicle.
- NSW government email addresses always end in *.nsw.gov.au.
- Please treat any communications about penalty notices with an address containing *.org, *.com, *.net, *.org.au, *.net.au or other variations anywhere within the address as suspicious.
- If you are contacted by someone purporting to be from OSR who asks for sensitive personal or financial information, please contact us independently using contact details found on our website before revealing any information.
Anyone who receives an infringement notice by email should report the matter to their local police, go to the Office of State Revenue for more information 02- 9689-6200, www.osr.nsw.gov.au and contact ScamWatch www.scamwatch.gov.au
* Name has been changed.
