Picture this: a tool meant to keep your money safe is now being used by criminals to steal from hardworking Australians. Many people don’t know much about it, and scammers are taking full advantage.
But don’t worry—we’re here to help you stay protected. We’ll discuss PayID, why scammers are exploiting it, and how you can use it safely without becoming a victim.
Let’s begin by discussing PayID, a service provided by more than 100 banks and financial institutions throughout Australia. PayID allows you to send money by using your phone number, email address, or other identifier.
Many banks offer PayID as a way to transfer money through their app or website, and the person you’re sending money to usually gets it within a minute. This helps make sure your money goes to the right person.
When you set up a new PayID, the verification process shows you the name linked to that identifier, which helps you feel confident about who you’re sending money to. You can get money by giving someone your phone number, email address, or another identifier that you’ve registered as your PayID with your bank – a straightforward process taken advantage of by PayID casinos in Australia, like those found here, and other outfits that require straightforward payment processing platforms, like paying bills. These services use PayID because it’s secure, easy to use, and convenient, according to Sergio Zammit, as many Australians already have an account, so using it to pay for these goods and services makes sense.
“It’s great to see both the number of PayIDs and the ratio of payments paid to a PayID (compared to paying via Account Number and BSB) continuing to increase. Banks are promoting PayID, it’s just a matter of continuing to push out the message it’s a safer way to transfer funds,” stated Ms. Anna Bligh, Chief Executive of the Australian Banking Association. She emphasized that over 12.7 million Australians have adopted PayID as a preventive measure to protect themselves.
A recent study found that even though PayID is convenient, it also led to scams that cost over $260,000 in 2022. This makes us worry about a service that’s supposed to protect us from scams but is being used by scammers instead.
Let’s talk about some things you should look out for to avoid getting tricked by a PayID scam.
When selling things online, it’s important to watch out for tricks that criminals use to confuse you about how PayID works and then take advantage of that confusion. Scammers might contact you, saying they want to buy your item. However, they usually don’t follow the usual steps of online buying, like bargaining over the price or checking the product before buying. Instead, they try to finish the deal quickly.
They often insist on using PayID for payment, but then they might say there’s a problem with your PayID. They’ll try to persuade you to fix it, usually through email. This is when they take advantage and send fake emails, trying to get you to fall for their trick.
Some people may use a trickier approach, keeping the conversation going when they see the victim is still confused and trying to figure out what’s happening. They might lie and say they fixed the problem on their end and ask for money back.
Recognizing the signs of a PayID scam is essential for protecting yourself. Familiarizing yourself with these signs can help you stay ahead and steer clear of fraudulent schemes.
Keep in mind that PayID is a free service, and there are no additional features or upgrades that require payment when receiving funds. Just a heads up, PayID never sends direct messages to users. So, if someone tells you otherwise, it’s likely a phishing attempt. It’s best to stop communicating with them right away, take steps to protect your personal information and money from potential theft and reach out to PayID support for help.
Remember to stay vigilant and make your online safety a top priority whenever you use PayID.
