Employment scams

Be wary of job opportunities that sound too good to be true

• There is no “easy way” to make money from home.
• Check with Consumer Protection, ASIC (www.asic.gov.au) and ACCC (www.accc.gov.au) whether the offer is legitimate.
• Ask for all the details in writing before you sign anything. Don’t be pressured into signing something on the spot.
• Be suspicious if you are asked to pay money. Find out more before you hand over your cash.
• Find out if there is a market for the work you plan to do.
• Check whether there are special legal requirements such as licences or other constraints on working from home.
• Alert WA ScamNet.

Money Mule email scams

1. The schemes are often promoted by email and on the Internet as “work from home” opportunities. The operators offer you commission (between 7% to 15%) for receiving money into your bank account and then transferring it out again. However the money is often stolen from other people's bank accounts. Money laundering is illegal.

2. Always treat unsolicited job offers from strangers with caution, even if it appears to come from a legitimate company or job recruitment service.  Why would they write to you when they have no business relationship with you?

3. Scammers often use fake email addresses mimicking real companies or set up sophisticated websites to give the appearance of legitimacy.

• Forward suspicious job offers to WA ScamNet and delete the email.

 What to do if you suspect you have fallen for a money mule scam

• If you have received money into your account, transferred or attempted to transfer money elsewhere, immediately contact your bank or financial institution.
• Your financial institution will start a fraud investigation and alert police if necessary.
• The financial institution will take steps to ensure that criminals cannot transfer money out of your account. This may mean freezing or closing down your account to ensure the criminals cannot access the money.
• If you have provided the criminals with your account details and Internet banking password, then unfortunately the criminal may be able to access your account. You should never give your Internet banking password to anyone - it must remain confidential!
• Always make sure that you have personal firewalls, the latest anti-virus software updates and other security patches on your home personal computers, and change your banking password on a regular basis.