18 Scam alert: Investment bonds scam Criminals are impersonating real businesses and offering fake investment bonds. They claim these bonds offer high returns and are protected by the government. Scammers will encourage you to register your name, mobile number and email on a fake website. They steal money by getting people to buy fake investment bonds. They will also use your personal details to commit other scams. The National Anti-Scam Centre works with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to remove investment scam websites, which led to thousands of websites being taken down in 2024. How to spot the scam This scam can be hard to spot because criminals set up fake emails where they pretend to be legitimate brokers. They also have a fake website which looks like the real business’s website. The fake website has the business’s branding and uses links that go to the real website. The fake website comes up in internet searches for investment opportunities. Recently criminals were impersonating Bunnings in one of these types of scams. Scammers offered environmental bonds that support carbon reduction, sustainability and waste reduction. They offered 3 investment options ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 and promised higher than market returns of up to 9%. They said that the investments are supported by Bunnings and protected by government finance regulations. ASIC has taken down the fake Bunnings websites. What you should know There are steps you can take to help avoid investment scams: • Don’t trust surprise offers to invest. • Don’t take investment advice from people you have met on social media. • Check the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) website to confirm if the person offering the investment is licenced. • Check the Moneysmart investor alert list for companies and websites you should not trust. • Check if the business details match the company’s real website. If you’ve been affected • Don’t be embarrassed about being scammed. • If you’ve had money or personal information stolen contact your bank or card provider immediately. • If you’ve been scammed or have provided personal information call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. • Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch. Scottish Naming Traditions Unlike modern days in centuries gone by very few first names existed. For this reason, we often find the same first name occurring with monotonous regularity in the same family – a genealogist’s nightmare. In Scotland, many families followed a naming pattern which is very helpful in identifying which James Campbell, for example, is the one that belongs in your tree. The pattern often followed was as below: 1st son named after father’s father 2nd son named after mother’s father 1st daughter named after mother’s mother 2nd daughter named after father’s mother 3rd daughter named after mother Another trend was to use parents’ and grandparents’ surnames as second names. For example, a child born to James and Fiona (nee Robertson) Campbell may be given the second name of Robertson In fact, all children from this marriage may carry the same second name. Checking these patterns may confirm that you are looking at the correct family members but these hints always come with a warning. Not all families followed this tradition which faded out during the 19th century. Please also remember that names alone do not confirm where your ancestors were from. Note that SMITH occurred 6081 times in the 1881 census of Aberdeenshire, almost as commonly as in Sussex, England, which recorded it 6340 times. For help with producing your family tree, you may like to join the Gold Coast Family History Society. For a modest yearly fee, you will have access to a comprehensive library, many worldwide subscription websites, and fellow researchers prepared to help you get started or break down any brick walls you may encounter. For further information visit http:// www.goldcoastfhs.org.au or attend our rooms at the Bicentennial Building, 833 Nerang-Southport Road, Nerang. GOLD COAST FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY On Friday 28 March at 9am we will be holding our Introduction to Family History class in our rooms at the Bicentennial Building, 833 NerangSouthport Rd, Nerang. This session is free for members and $10 for non-members. Places will be strictly limited, please phone Pam on 0447 715 593 or email: goldcoastfamilyhistorysociety@gmail.com. We will also be holding a seminar on Saturday 5th April entitled Introduction to National Archives Australia and Moment in Migration. For further information and to register please go to our website www.goldcoastfhs.org.au
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