Entire bank accounts are being drained without victims being any wiser until they open them days or even weeks later.
Remote access scams are a rort that occurs when a criminal tricks their victim into downloading software, allowing them to get control of their victim's phone or computer and drain their bank accounts.
"Financial criminals use sophisticated emails, web-based pop-up messages and phone calls to impersonate well-known companies such as Microsoft to deceive people into thinking there is a problem with their account, computer or phone that needs fixing," ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said."The scammer will sound professional and offer to help resolve the problem, by instructing the victim to download well-known screen sharing software such as AnyDesk, Zoho or Teamviewer.
Australians lost a collective $15.5 million to the ploys in 2023, and losses rose by 54 per cent in the first quarter of 2024.
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