The Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia (CBFCA) have recently issued a warning on an email scam that is seeking money from importers.
Please find the details following:
Australians who use the internet to buy goods from overseas should be wary of fake emails asking them to pay ‘Customs’ a range of fees, duty or taxes before their goods are released to them.
The scam emails may use old seizure notices from the former Australian Customs and Border Protection Service or signature blocks to legitimise the email, and request payment in US dollars.
The Department and Immigration and Border Protection (the Department) will NEVER contact Australians via email requesting the payment of duty, GST and/or other charges in order for the purchaser to receive their goods. The Department will never ask you to send your personal or bank details via email.
Certain goods brought into Australia do require an import permit, and the Australian Border Force may detain such goods pending presentation of the permit. Where goods are detained for permit purposes, you will receive written advice directly by mail from the Department.
If you receive a suspicious email, your best defence is to delete the email straight away.
Never send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.
Do not click on any links in a spam email or open any files attached to them. Never call a telephone number that you see in a spam email.
Information about import regulations and processes is available at buying goods over the internet.
To report a suspected scam, visit the SCAMwatch Report a scam page.
Image and source credit: CBFCA
