How’s this for a scam!

JUST five weeks out from Christmas and you’d hope it’s the season “to be jolly”.

But, alas, no. It seems it’s the season to be scammed.

Check this one out. A friend’s Facebook page has been hacked, locking the real user out, and the people on his contact list are now being scammed with an offer of Taylor Swift tickets.

A member of the Sentinel-Times’ staff was sent a message, allegedly from her friend, offering four Taylor Swift tickets.

“I’ll take them,” said our staff member and messaged back with an offer to bring the money around personally.

“No, just send a deposit. They’re electronic tickets, anyway.”

Our staff member smelled a rat and called another friend who revealed it as a sophisticated scam.

But this is actually text book for where scams have got to now.

Scams succeed because they look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it.

Scammers take advantage of new technology, new products or services and major events to create believable stories that convince you to give them your money or personal details.

Always stop, think and check before you act. Scammers rely on you not spotting these warning signs because you’re in a hurry, something looks like a great deal you don’t want to miss, or because it seems like it’s from someone you trust.

It sounds like the scammers have come a long way but it’s just the beginning.

Companies, including banks, operating online need to change their practices and so does the government but the reality is “the cat is out of the bag” and we’ve got to adjust our own behaviour.

Check out the Government’s Scamwatch page, stay ahead of the scammers if you can, only buy from online sites you have already used and trust, or better yet, in the run up to Christmas, buy local where you can. For helpful tips go to scamwatch.gov.au

And another thing, the community thanks both Monash MP Russell Broadbent and Bass Coast Mayor Cr Michael Whelan for their service after it was revealed both will be stepping down, Mr Broadbent at the next election after 40 years in public life and Cr Whelan after two years as mayor.