Topics: online scams, employment scams, young people, cyber security
Professor Asha Rao, School of Science
“We’re seeing an increase of online scammers targeting young people in multiple ways.
“According to the ACCC 2022 Targeting Scams report, losses due to online scams have risen significantly in the past few years.
“Australians reported losses of at least $3.1 billion in 2022, a significant increase of 80% from 2021.
“Interestingly, 30% of victims don’t report these scams to anyone as it's possible victims feel embarrassed.
“Despite being more internet savvy, young people are more vulnerable to online scams, especially in the current economic climate.
“The ACCC report found that young people were more likely to fall for employment scams on social media, their main source of information.
“Many young people are trying to make ends meet or save money for a home deposit and are finding ways to make extra money through task-based, work-from-home jobs such as data entry or content creation.
“Younger people are also more exposed to online scams as they are more likely to dip their toes into new, foreign technology.
“For example, cryptocurrency investments and payments have a high participation rate from younger audiences but are still highly unregulated by governments.
“The best way to avoid scams is to always cross check what you see online with other independent sources.”
Professor Asha Rao is a Professor within the School of Science at RMIT University and a listed cybersecurity expert. She is a trans-disciplinary researcher working across mathematics, cybersecurity and gender equity in STEM.
Dr Arathi Arakala, Lecturer in Mathematics
“Several consumer protection agencies, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Federal Trade Commission in the US, have reported a sharp increase in online scams.
“The most common victims of these scams are the younger generations, specifically Gen Z and Millennials.
“Despite these generations being more “tech savvy”, comfort with technology does not guarantee that they practice good cyber safety.
“Gen Z and Millennials are more risk-tolerant, curious to learn new things and open to unconventional ideas – all traits that can expose them to deceptive practices.
“This also makes them a prime target for scammers who have become uncannily good at impersonating websites, social media profiles and organisations to extract money from their victims.
“These generations are most likely to fall for are online shopping scams, investment scams and employment scams.
“The best way to stay safe online is to be aware of the latest scams and their attack strategies.
“In addition, practising cyber awareness by noticing phishing requests, avoiding clicking on unverified links and keeping personal information secure will help us stay safe.
“The National Anti-Scam Centre has extensive information on scams, including support services when a scam has occurred.”
Dr Arathi Arakala is a Lecturer in Mathematics. She is the program manager of the Masters in Cybersecurity program at RMIT and is a member of RMIT’s Centre for Cybersecurity research and Innovation (CCSRI).
Dr Abebe Diro, Lecturer in Cybersecurity
“The internet, with its vast reach, easy accessibility, and anonymity, has become a hotbed for scammers.
“However, this doesn't necessarily mean people are more gullible.
“Instead, it reflects the ever-expanding techniques that online scammers use in today's digital landscape.
“You would assume that younger generations, especially Gen Z with their digital familiarity, would be less susceptible to such scams. Yet, they often find themselves as prime targets.
“Their deep-seated comfort with technology can sometimes lead to overconfidence, causing them to overlook potential threats.
“Having grown up in a predominantly digital age, many young people tend to have an inherent trust in online platforms, which can blind them to potential pitfalls.
“Additionally, the culture of instant gratification promoted by many online platforms, makes young people more vulnerable to scams promising immediate rewards.
“Today's scammers are not just tech-savvy but also adept at social engineering, continuously refining their tactics to exploit psychological vulnerabilities across age groups.
“There are several approaches to navigate the online world safely and guard against scams:
Keep informed about the latest scamming techniques.
Use two-factor authentication when possible and ensure any software is regularly updated.
Use strong, unique passwords – this cannot be overstated in today's digital landscape.”
Dr Abebe Diro is a lecturer at RMIT University's School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain. He is a cybersecurity scientist with interests in machine learning-based cybersecurity, and cryptography.
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