Free Cyber Awareness in Tumut: Learn to Spot Scams and Stay Safer Online
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Join us at Tumut & District Neighbourhood Centre for a free and practical Cybernao Community Cyber Awareness session.
When: Wednesday 23 September 2026, 11.30 am–12.30 pm AEST
Where: Tumut & District Neighbourhood Centre, 173 Wynyard Street, Tumut NSW 2720
Cost: Free
Booking: Reserve your place through Humanitix
Scams can arrive by text message, email, phone call, social media or through a website. They may appear to come from a bank, government service, delivery company, employer, friend or family member. While scam messages can look convincing, the way they influence us is often predictable.
This session gives you a chance to learn in a friendly, supportive environment without needing advanced computer skills. Ask questions, build your confidence and learn what to do if something does not feel right.
Book your free session
Book through Humanitix before the event.
The ticket page lists the session as:
- Wednesday 23 September
- 11.30 am–12.30 pm AEST
- Tumut & District Neighbourhood Centre
- Tumut NSW
The session is presented as a practical community awareness opportunity. No specialist knowledge is required. Bring your questions and share the invitation with family members, volunteers, community groups and local businesses who may benefit.
Learn how scammers influence you
The session explores four common pressure points scammers use to encourage fast decisions:
Urgency
A message may say your account will be closed, a payment is overdue or you must act immediately. The pressure is designed to stop you from taking time to check.
Fear
A scammer may claim there is suspicious activity, a legal problem or an unpaid bill. Fear can make a request appear more believable and make you less likely to question it.
Trust
Scammers often copy familiar logos, language and branding. They may pretend to be someone you already know or use information gathered from public profiles.
Authority
A request may appear to come from a bank, government agency, police officer, manager or another organisation you are used to dealing with. A trusted name does not automatically make a message genuine.
When you notice these tactics, pause before you respond. A genuine organisation should not object to you independently checking a request.
Pause and check first
Before clicking a link, opening an attachment, transferring money or sharing personal information, take a moment to check the request.
Use this simple process:
- Stop. Do not let a message rush you into action.
- Check the sender. Look closely at the email address, phone number or account name. Remember that caller ID and display names can be copied.
- Check another way. Contact the organisation using a phone number or website you find independently rather than using the details in the unexpected message.
- Check the request. Ask whether the person or organisation would normally request this information or payment in this way.
- Ask someone you trust. A second opinion can help you identify something you may have missed.
- Do not share security codes. Treat passwords, passcodes and one-time verification codes as private.
You can also access reliable online safety information through Cyber.gov.au, the Australian Government’s cyber security website.
Know the warning signs
A request may need closer checking if it:
- Demands immediate payment
- Asks for passwords, verification codes or banking details
- Uses unusual spelling, language or formatting
- Includes a link that does not match the organisation’s usual website
- Requests payment by unusual methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Promises an unexpected prize, refund, job or investment return
- Asks you to keep the conversation secret
- Threatens consequences if you do not respond quickly
- Comes from a new account claiming to be someone you know
- Asks you to move a conversation away from a trusted platform
One warning sign does not always prove a message is a scam. It does mean you should slow down and verify the request before continuing.
If you have already responded
Do not feel embarrassed if you clicked a link, replied to a message or shared information. Scammers are skilled at creating believable situations and anyone can be targeted.
The Cybernao session covers what to do after you have:
- Clicked a suspicious link
- Opened an unexpected attachment
- Replied to a scam message
- Shared personal or financial information
- Sent money
- Given someone access to an account or device
The right response depends on what happened. You may need to contact your bank, change passwords, secure your email account, monitor transactions or seek technical support. Act promptly and keep records of messages, phone numbers, email addresses, payment details and screenshots.
You can report suspected scams through Scamwatch. If money or personal information may have been taken, contact your bank or financial institution as soon as possible. Reporting helps you access support and contributes to a clearer picture of scam activity. There is no shame in asking for help.
Why cyber safety matters
Cyber safety is part of everyday community life. Community organisations, volunteers, families and small businesses may all handle:
- Personal information
- Email accounts
- Online bookings and forms
- Payments and invoices
- Social media accounts
- Client, member or volunteer records
- Shared computers and mobile devices
A compromised account can affect more than one person. For example, an attacker may use a stolen email account to send convincing requests to contacts, access stored information or attempt to redirect a payment.
Simple habits make a difference. Use strong and unique passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication where available, install updates and keep important files backed up. Most importantly, create a culture where people can speak up quickly when something feels unusual.
Explore Cyber Wardens separately
Cyber Wardens is a separate Australian small-business cyber safety initiative led by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA). It is not the same programme as the Cybernao Community Cyber Awareness session and Tumut & District Neighbourhood Centre is not claiming to be a Cyber Wardens partner.
The Cyber Wardens initiative provides practical, self-paced online learning designed for Australian small businesses. The training has included:
- Foundations, which introduces basic cyber safety and common warning signs
- Level 1, which builds practical skills for protecting a small business
- AI Safety resources, which cover using artificial intelligence more safely in a small-business setting where available
The official training platform has offered free learning and certificates of completion. Course names, enrolment arrangements and programme availability can change, particularly following the end of the programme’s original government funding period. Check the official websites for the latest information before relying on current enrolment details:
Cyber Wardens may be useful for small-business owners, staff and volunteers who want to work through online cyber safety learning at their own pace. It does not replace professional technical advice or the support you may need after an incident.
Make time to learn
You do not need to know everything about cyber security to make safer choices. Start by recognising pressure, slowing down and checking unexpected requests through a separate channel.
Book your place at the free session on Wednesday 23 September 2026 from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm AEST:
Book the Cybernao Community Cyber Awareness session
If you need help finding information, accessing online services or working out where to seek support, contact Tumut & District Neighbourhood Centre. Our Centre provides friendly information, advice, referrals and advocacy for people across Tumut and the surrounding districts.
Visit our services page or contact us to find out how we can help.
Tumut & District Neighbourhood Centre Inc
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