**Beware of Scammers Impersonating ASIC: Protect Your Information**
As a trusted and authorized government body, we are committed to safeguarding your personal information and financial security. Recently, there have been alarming reports of scammers exploiting look-alike domains to impersonate ASIC and fraudulently contact Registry customers via email.
These deceptive emails are cleverly crafted to resemble legitimate communications from ASIC. They often request customers to pay fees and provide personal information to renew their business or company name. Additionally, these fraudulent emails may contain links that request ASIC usernames and passwords, posing a significant risk of infecting your computer with malware if clicked.
To protect yourself from falling victim to such scams, it is crucial to identify the telltale signs of a scam email:
1. **Payment Requests Over the Phone:**
Be cautious of any emails requesting you to make a payment over the phone. Legitimate ASIC communications will not ask for payments via phone calls.
2. **Requests for Credit Card or Bank Details:**
ASIC will never ask for your credit card or bank details directly through email or over the phone. Any such request should raise immediate suspicion.
3. **Inconsistent Fee Amounts:**
Compare the fee being requested to those listed on the official ASIC website. If there is a discrepancy, it could be a scam attempt.
4. **Unusual Timing of Emails:**
Renewal notices from ASIC are issued 30 days before the renewal date. Emails received outside of this normal timeframe should be scrutinized.
Authentic ASIC notifications will always come from the email address: ASIC.Transaction.No-reply@asic.gov.au. If you receive a suspicious email, it is essential to forward the entire email for investigation.
If you have unfortunately fallen victim to a scam, it is crucial to take immediate action to mitigate any potential damage. Here are the steps you should follow:
– **Do Not Send More Money:**
Refrain from making any further payments as it could worsen your financial loss.
– **Report to Your Financial Institution:**
Inform your bank or financial institution about the scam to help secure your accounts and prevent further unauthorized transactions.
– **Contact ASIC for Assistance:**
Reach out to ASIC for additional guidance and support to address the situation effectively.
Your vigilance is crucial in preventing scams and protecting your personal and financial information. Stay informed, stay alert, and ensure that you interact through legitimate channels only.
You can safely renew your business name with Registration Pty Ltd, an ASIC Registered Agent at their website Reg.com.au
