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Free - The Little Black Book of Scams - Delivered from ACCC

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Free delivery from ACCC.

The little black book of scams highlights a variety of popular scams that regularly target Australian consumers and small business in areas such as

  • fake lotteries
  • internet shopping
  • mobile phones
  • online banking
  • employment
  • investment opportunities.

It also offers

  • consumers tips on how to protect themselves from scams
  • what they can do to minimise damage if they do get scammed
  • how they can report a scam.

Related Stores

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closed Comments

  • This has been free for a year now, it belongs in the forums…

    • +6

      Not sure how this is a bargain. Just a book of common knowledge for ozbargainer.

    • +2

      Why was jv's comment marked as off topic?

      • +5

        because it's JV

  • +77

    Sounds too good to be true.

  • +74

    I have it. This is my favourite entry….

    Internet Shopping Scams
    Page 6.
    Persistent 12% discount codes at www.dicksmith.com.au

    • +1

      I know it's tongue-in-cheek but there are people who would take this literally and it isn't fair on DSE who does give us pretty good deals from time to time. Besides, all major retailers are guilty of doing that sort of thing also.

    • Those 12% off deals seems to have only made Dick more disliked.

      • +2

        Who doesn't like Dick?

        • +1

          I only like my own Richard ;)

        • he's a real stand up guy

        • Back in the day maybe. I hear he's turned skinhead these days.

        • Clearly missed the pun there

  • +6

    Thought this was a free Kindle eBook or Udemy course to get rich quick.

  • +2

    So im not a multi million dollar lotto winner? And i was just about to hand over my bank account details
    thanks op

  • +5

    Are the instructions easy to follow?

    • "You are not authorized to access this page"

  • +26

    Chapters

    1 Gumtree
    2 Ebay
    3 Paypal
    4 Kogan
    5 GoDaddy
    6 Harvey Norman
    7 Dr Dre Beats

    Please add more

    • +3
      1. Extended Warranty
    • +3

      Hahaha Dr Dre Beats - one of the worst!

      • Just got Dr Dre Studio headphones from DSE after returning faulty Logitech UE6000 (End of LIne).
        Dr Dre Studio headphones feel like plastic crap. Good if you like just BASS…
        I hope that an Android equalizer app will help !!!

        Got cash back (Store Credit),new warranty and they kept my old Extended Warranty….meh

      • Scanpan RRP
      • Luggage RRP
      • Mattress RRP
    • +4

      8 Monster Cable

    • 9 Reader's Digest lucky draws

      • But you may already be a winner!

    • Supercheap auto

  • +2

    What if the book informing you about scams happens to be the scam in itself… And some "work at home" administrator was the one pointing it out to you? How would you know who the scammer is?

    In any case, I don't actually believe that. I think this is a book they should deliver to everyone's home once a year. I still get the wasteful yellow pages which makes for good fire fuel.

  • I was hoping this had more stories, oh well

  • +2

    Isn't this available all the time (mailed or downloadable)? eg. from 2009 http://www.abn.org.au/blog/little-black-book-of-scams-get-yo…
    Most govt depts will mail you their material (courtesy of taxpayers)

  • +1

    The irony of the ACCC offering advice about avoiding scams when they can't even safeguard our personal information…

    Here's the media release they had to issue back in April
    http://accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-statement-regarding-it…

    • +4

      As a demonstration of that irony, my own info was among that exposed - as a result of ordering this very booklet back in 2010.

      So far, no spam/phishing messages have arrived at the e-mail address I provided them, which was specific to that site. Have had that happen with several other companies, though catching them out is a bit anticlicmatic, because there are no significant consequences.

    • +1

      Who in their right mind orders free stuff with legit info (besides address)?

  • +2

    Both the pocket-sized guide and the comprehensive guide are 1.26 MB in size :-)

  • +1
  • Thanks, might be good to give to some family and friends!

  • +3

    The real question is: Can I trust the accc or is this a scam?

    • +8

      That is not the real question.

      • -3

        True: the real question is why the hell are my tax dollars spent on MAILING this out?

        • +12

          To prevent your tax dollars being spent chasing up the scams?

  • How is this a deal again?

  • The site is currently undergoing maintenance. Back soon.

  • ordered :P

  • +1

    I guess were not the lucky country but the stupid country.

    • +2

      That guess was confirmed after the last election. Stupid, gullible… call it what you want.

  • +2

    No mention of the VW Golf scam?

  • +5

    As an ex ACCC-Investigator, you would be suprised and depressed at how many people still get scammed for significant sums of money :( There's not much the ACCC can do about it given most of it originates from OS.

    • +4

      I nearly fell for your comment.

      • +3

        I am not sure why that was downvoted. Why would I lie about being ex-ACCC? Maybe it was the ozbargain armchair lawyers who have no idea how trade practices, litigation or government agencies actually work. Cue calls of toothless tigers etc etc. Anyway, that was more than a few years ago.

        Largest amount lost I dealt with was a woman who was romanced scammed for almost $750,000. That was a hard phone call to take.

        Scams are scams, usually greedy people trying to get something for nothing, but the romance and medical ones (cancer cures!!!) are pure scum.

  • +8

    Page 42

    50% All Rugs. Closing Down Sale

  • +3

    I got an overseas SMS, saying that I have won 5,000,000 GBP.
    My brother got an overseas SMS, saying that has won 2,500,000 GBP.
    He complained to me that how unfair the world was; I won twice as much as him….

  • +1

    Page 46
    Channel TVSN

  • You open the book only to find no writing exists . Oh the irony ……

  • -4

    Great bargain.

    I order 20.

    cheers

    Other free stuff:
    Postcard: http://www.accc.gov.au/publications/consumer-guarantees-repa… - order 20
    Door hanger: http://www.accc.gov.au/publications/door-to-door-door-hanger - ordered 20
    Refunds/remedies brochure: http://www.accc.gov.au/publications/refunds-remedies - ordered 30

    Got that many for friends and family. Most of them could really use those!

  • +1

    I received a fake lottery win in the mail today. One should outlaw such practises, but I guess organised religion has been running a similar scam for centuries. Promise eternal paradise for 10% tithing. Governments promote such practises with tax exemptions and the like.

  • Damm the cost in making these are costing tax payers money!
    Just download the pdf.

    I guess there are a lot of people who get scammed who dont have a computer

    • I can't read PDF in the toilet, and no, I don't take technology where I poo.

      • I don't take technology where I poo.

        But that is what technology are for.
        You are doing it wrong.

  • PlayAsia

  • -1

    Ordered 5 just because I can lol

  • +2

    Don't order them in hard copy if you don't need to guys.

  • I got my book today. It's small enough to fit into my handbag and will be useful for reading while standing in line or waiting for a doctor or other appointment.

    • also useful for propping up the short leg of the table at a cafe.

  • Well, I ordered 2 of these books, but instead I got 2 books about "keeping baby safe"
    FFS!

  • Thanks OP. I ordered a few for my school (I teach business studies).

    Edit: The order confirmation email was flagged as spam :P

    • Not a bad book. I was planning on using it for VET Business students, but I think it's better suited to lower school Computer Literacy students. I've ordered another 30 so the school has a class set.

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