26 July 2024
The ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre has recently posted warnings for farmers on social media, focusing on hay bale scams.
Scammers advertise hay for sale and ask for a deposit, with the balance payable in cash on delivery. But the hay never arrives and the scammer stops all communication. While the recent trend focuses on hay for sale, other agricultural-related products may be referenced in similar scams.
Never pay money to someone you only know through social media. If you’re making an online purchase, use secure payment methods such as PayPal or credit card.
Contact your bank immediately if you’ve transferred money or shared financial information. Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch.
See our anti-scam posts on X and on Facebook.
According to NASC, in 2023, scams, where contact occurred via social media, resulted in the second-highest volume of reported losses, increasing by 16.5% from 2022 to $93.5 million.
Scammers set up fake profiles on social media, messaging platforms and apps. They pretend to be from the government, a real business, an employer, an investment firm, or even a friend, family member or romantic interest.
Scammers can also learn much about you from the details you share on your social media accounts. They create quizzes or posts designed to deceive you into sharing personal information. They use this information to guess your account passwords or target you with other scams.