Have you ever answered a call from an unknown number that didn’t feel quite right?

You could have been the target of a remote access scam.

RACQ Head of Bank Resilience Sarah Richardson said remote access scams were very common and victims often paid a high price.

“The most prevalent and impactful scams we see are remote access scams, often starting with a phone call,” Ms Richardson said.

In 2022, Australians lost more than $21 million to remote access scams, according to data from the National Anti-Scam Centre (Scamwatch).

These scams target trustworthy people by tricking them into providing access to their devices where internet banking passwords are stored.

Their goal is to access your bank account and swiftly transfer your money into their own accounts.

Ms Richardson said anyone could fall victim to scammers masquerading as a legitimate business trying to help you.

“Scammers are opportunistic and try to catch you during a moment where you might be time-poor or just happen to have all the stars align where the scam scenario fits your current circumstance,” she said.

“There is often a feeling of embarrassment felt by scam victims but victims shouldn’t be embarrassed. Anyone can be scammed. Scammers are sophisticated and professional in their dealings and all it takes is for the right scenario to fit for you.”

Warning signs

Remote access scammers will typically:

• Call randomly from a number you don’t recognise;
• Pretend to be from a well-known bank, company or tech support service;
• Sound professional and knowledgeable;
• Claim something is wrong with your broadband internet connection, phone line or computer (e.g. virus or performance issues);
• Request remote access to your device to find out what the problem is and fix it;
• Persuade you to sign up for a service or download specific software;
• Ask for your personal information, banking or credit card details;
• Be very persistent and pushy over the phone.

Tips to protect your account

• If you’re unsure of the caller, hang up and call the company back. Don’t call back on a number the caller has given you. Locate the company’s number on their website.
• Never give anyone remote access to your computer or provide your personal, banking or card details over the phone, unless you’re sure the person on the other end can be trusted. Make sure you ask questions or simply hang up if they request remote access.
• To help protect your bank account, many banks will send you a onetime passcode (OTP) for certain transactions. This is a random security code sent to your preferred phone number or email address for you to authorise a transaction or service. Don’t share your OTP with anyone, including your bank.
• Keep your computer protected with up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software from a trusted source.
• If you receive excessive calls and emails from suspected scammers, talk to your telephone or internet service provider to see how they can help you reduce these. Visit scamwatch.gov.au for more information on protecting yourself from scammers.