You're a scammer's nightmare!

Your digital footprint includes everything publicly available about you online — like social media profiles, old posts or comments. Scammers can use this information to impersonate you or guess security answers.

Take time to search your name online and review what’s visible. Remove outdated or unnecessary content and tighten your privacy settings. The less they know, the less they can use against you.

Scammers change their tactics regularly, so stay informed about the latest scams and emerging tactics scammers are likely to take advantage of.

As technology like AI continues to evolve, scams may become increasingly difficult to spot. When it comes to scams, knowledge is power, so staying informed is one of the best things you can do.

If you're not already using one, consider using a password manager. Password managers take the hassle out of remembering your online credentials because they generate complex, random passwords for every account. And the best bit? You'll only need to remember one master password.

Make sure you do your research to check you're using a reputable password manager with good security credentials.

Refresh yourself on the classic scammer playbook and arm yourself with knowledge about common types of scams. Reinforcing your ability to spot and avoid scams is one of the most effective ways to stop them before any damage is done. Stop and think, "is it really real?".

Even though you're well prepared and protected, remember that scams can affect anyone, anytime. They're designed to trick us and there's no shame in being scammed. If you've noticed something unusual or think you might have been scammed, focus on the practical steps you can now take to address the situation.

Taking action quickly could help to minimise the impact on you and your finances.

Scams can affect anyone, regardless of age or how tech-savvy they are. Talk with your family and friends about types of scams and how to stay safe — like using strong passwords, turning on multi-factor authentication and spotting red flags.

Want an easy way to start? Get them to take the scammer's nightmare challenge. It’s a great way to start a conversation and protect everyone.