BUSINESS FEATURE

Facebook hackers, government impersonator scams, and the all-too-familiar ‘Text Mum’ scams are on the rise, but the Douglas Shire community is taking action. This Thursday, the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre (PDNC) is hosting a fun and informative event to help locals protect themselves from online fraud.

Presented by Cairns Community Legal Service, the event will offer free online safety tips, featuring an engaging "Scam Bingo" game to help participants learn how to spot scams while enjoying prizes. 

With over 180,000 scam reports in Australia this year, resulting in more than $186 million in financial losses, the need for raising awareness and protecting the community has never been greater. The Douglas Shire is no exception, where locals are feeling the impact firsthand.

Megan Blacklow, Financial Counsellor at PDNC and advocate for scam and debt-related issues through the Queensland Financial Resilience Program, shared how scams are affecting locals. 

“People come to the Neighbourhood Centre weekly with scam-related issues. The recent $4.99 Dyson Vacuum Cleaner scam left Douglas Shire residents in remote areas without access to their key cards for up to two weeks after they had to be cancelled,” Ms Blacklow said.

Ms Blacklow further warned of a new scam involving fraudsters impersonating Good Shepherd NILS workers, requesting myGov login details, which has resulted in people losing their Centrelink payments and tax refunds.

“Hosting this event is vital because scams are constantly evolving, scammers are using more sophisticated technology to target people and taking advantage of people by creating panic, excitement, curiosity, or empathy,” she added.

What to expect

Christine Gilewicz, Community Development Worker at PDNC & self-acclaimed ‘compulsive Googler’, and Tracey Ashton, a social worker from Cairns Community Legal Centre, will co-host the event. 

They will cover a range of scams, from health and romance scams to charity and investment fraud, while offering practical advice on safeguarding passwords and identifying phishing attempts. 

Attendees will leave with key insights on how to detect scams, who to contact for help, and steps to stay safe online.

Closing the digital divide

This event is part of the national “Get Online Week,” a campaign aimed at closing the digital divide. According to the campaign, 1 in 4 Australians are digitally excluded, and less than 40% feel confident in keeping up with technology. 

“Get Online Week” hosts hundreds of local events to help people improve their digital skills and feel empowered to learn more.