Bill scam: Why you should check invoice details before paying
If you received an email invoice from a business you were expecting, would you just pay it online without thinking? Or would you call to check the bank details with the supplier first?
Fuel fight: What vehicle efficiency standards mean for you
Are you looking to buy a new car? The rising cost of fuel will undoubtedly be factored into the choice you make - a more efficient car means less money at the bowser, after all.
Out of sight: Keeping a lid on optometrist costs
If you wear glasses or contact lenses all the time, you know they can be costly. Given you can’t do without them, it’s a cost you just have to bear, right?.
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Driving change: Take control of car complaints
Having trouble getting the dealership to take your car troubles seriously? Is the manufacturer giving you the runaround?
It’s easy to feel like you’re a voice in the wilderness when you’re being shunted from dealer to manufacturer and back again, each blaming the other – or you – for the vehicle’s faults.
Handle My Complaint CEO Jo Ucukalo says it’s an effective tactic, as most consumers simply give up.
Food fraud: Are you eating what you paid for?
With groceries costing more than ever, at the very least, you would expect to get what you paid for.
But the food we buy isn’t always what it says on the packaging. Whether it’s cheap olive oil sold as extra virgin, beef passed off as veal, or drinks watered down, food fraud is more prevalent than you might think.
Travel trap: Beware of Booking.com scammers
Booking travel and accommodation has never been easier thanks to the internet, but as Booking.com users have found, the modern convenience is not without its traps.
In the year ending December 2023, Australians lost more than $337,000 to scammers impersonating some of the online travel agency’s accommodation partners.
Rent increases: Do tenants have any rights?
Your landlord has just hit you with another rent rise. But this one isn’t just incremental, in keeping with inflation or the cost of living. It’s a jump of several hundred dollars a week. How are you going to afford it?
Privacy risks: Tackling facial recognition technology head on
Have you seen any signs about the use of facial recognition technology when you’ve been out shopping? CCTV is one thing, but this controversial technology raises more concerns about breaches of our privacy.
Smart money: How to avoid PayID scams
Do you use PayID? Hardly surprising, given that more than 15 million Australians have taken up the electronic payment system since its launch six years ago.
The attraction is simple: it’s easy to use, free, and money is transferred quickly. The unique identifier (the ID part) is linked to your bank account; you only need a mobile number or ABN to send and receive money.
According to the Australian Banking Association, it’s also one of the most important steps customers can take to prevent scams.
But the mobile-friendly service hasn’t been immune to scammers, either. Even the tech-savvy younger generation - least likely to be caught in other financial scams - has been caught out.