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Brighter / Brighter Magazine / SXSW Sydney 2024: Do you know how to spot a scam?

Are you scam-savvy enough to make it through CommBank House at SXSW Sydney?

SXSW Sydney is back for a second year. Put your scams knowledge to the test in a series of interactive challenges at CommBank House. 

18 October 2024

  • SXSW Sydney is back for a second year from 14-20 October 2024 
  • Put your scams knowledge to the test at CommBank House in Tumbalong Park 
  • Three simple steps that can help you protect yourself from scams

Creativity and innovation are in the air with the return of SXSW Sydney for a second year. 

Founded in Austin, Texas in 1987, the world’s leading festival of creativity, progressive thinking, technology and innovation is back from 14-20 October 2024, with over 1,000 events and experiences to explore. 

Visit CommBank House (look for the big yellow padlock!) in Darling Harbour’s Tumbalong Park during the festival and put your scams and fraud knowledge to the test as you make your way through a series of interactive challenges across three rooms. 

Room 1: Stop

The first step in protecting yourself against a scam is to stop and take a breath. 

Scammers try to create a sense of urgency when they contact you to push you into making quick decisions – something real organisations won’t do. 

The first CommBank House challenge is designed to put you under this same kind of pressure and see how you react. 

A photo of a person engaging with a challenge at CommBank House at SXSW.

Room 2: Check 

We’re bombarded with so much information every day that it can be hard to tell the real from the fake. 

To solve the second challenge, you’ll need to be aware of the signs that a message may not be what it seems.

A photo of a person engaging with an interactive screen at CommBank House at SXSW Sydney.

Scams are deliberately designed to deceive you, so always check if something seems off. You can do this by asking someone you trust or contacting the organisation a message claims to be from.

CallerCheck allows you to verify whether a caller claiming to be from CommBank is legitimate by triggering a security notification in your CommBank app.

Room 3: Reject 

If a call or message doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you’re unsure, reject - hang up on the caller, delete the email, block the phone number. And change your passwords. 

The final challenge will test your ability to retain safe messages and reject unsafe ones. The more you get right, the higher your score.

A photo of a person engaging with an interactive screen at CommBank House at SXSW Sydney.

By becoming more scam aware, you can unlock a brighter, safer future. Visit CommBank House and make your way through these challenges to find out how scam-savvy you really are.

Visit commbank.com.au/sxswsydney to find out more about what CommBank is up to at SXSW Sydney from 14-20 October 2024.

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This article provides general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as personal financial product advice. The views expressed by contributors are their own and don’t necessarily reflect the views of CBA. As the information has been provided without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, you should, before acting on this information, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and Terms and Conditions, and whether the product is appropriate to your circumstances. You should also consider whether seeking independent professional legal, tax and financial advice is necessary. Every effort has been taken to ensure the information was correct as at the time of printing but it may be subject to change. No part of the editorial contents may be reproduced or copied in any form without the prior permission and acknowledgement of CBA.