Australians are set to lose a record amount to scams in 2019, according to Scamwatch, with losses reported to government agencies projected to top half a billion dollars for the first time.

Centre Alliance parliamentarians Rebekha Sharkie and Stirling Griff will host a scam information session in Victor Harbor on Wednesday 6 November to help residents identify and avoid scammers.

They will be joined by representatives from NBN and SAPOL to provide knowledge about detecting scams and how to protect against getting sucked in. 

The ACCC says investment scams are among the most sophisticated and convincing and induce the highest losses.

“Many people are confident they would never fall for a scam but often it’s this sense of confidence that scammers target,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard says.

“People need to update their idea of what a scam is so that we are less vulnerable. Scammers are professional businesses dedicated to ripping us off. They have call centres with convincing scripts, staff training programs, and corporate performance indicators their ‘employees’ need to meet.

“Our advice is to be wary of ads you see on the internet. Don’t be persuaded by celebrity endorsements or ‘not to be missed’ opportunities. You never know for certain who you’re dealing with or whether they’re credible,” Ms Rickard says.

“If you think you’re speaking to a friend on social media, call them, or find another way to contact them before acting on any advice that might result in you giving away your personal details or money.”

The scam information session will be held at the Christian Gospel Centre, at 2 George Main Road, from 2pm to 3.30pm. To attend, RSVP to Rebekha Sharkie.

To find out more about the latest scams and how to report them go to Scamwatch.