Online Scams & Fraud in Australia
Scams have become increasingly prevalent in Australia over the past few years, with scammers becoming more sophisticated and targeting vulnerable individuals. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australians lost a whopping A$3.1bn ($2bn) to scams in 2022. This represents a massive 80% jump in the total amount lost as compared to 2021 with the average amount lost per person standing at A$20,000 ($13,500). The ACCC warns the loss could be higher as not all scams are reported.
Unfortunately, this has led many Australians to suffer significant financial losses and emotional distress. Join us as we explore the key scam trends in Australia, how to report scams, and how to get help for scams in Australia.
Scam Statistics in Australia
The key statistics on online fraud in India, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Population | 24.6 million | 25.3 million | 26.6 million | 25.7 million |
| Internet Penetration | 88% | 88% | 85% | 82% |
| # of Scams | 177 000 | 167,800 | 444,164 (59%) | 566,648 (28%) |
| Scams / 1,000 | 7 | 6.6 | 17.3 | 22 |
| Money Lost | €66.5 million | € 530.8 million | € 532 million | € 1.22 billion |
| Money Lost / Capita | €2.70 | € 20.90 | € 20.70 | € 44.7 |
| Money Lost / Report | € 3,163 | € 1,197 | € 2024.4 |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Where Can I report a Scam in Australia?
- Police: You can also report to your local police station or through Crimestoppers at 1800 333 000. You can also get in touch with the police through 131 444.
- National Anti-Scam Centre/ScamWatch: The National Anti-Scam Centre has been set up to coordinate government, law enforcement and the private sector to combat scams. It builds on the work of the ACCC’s Scamwatch service.
- ReportCyber: You can also report a scam to them through their official website which is mainly a consumer & business reporting site.
How to Report a Scam in Australia
Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other relevant information. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in Australia
The Scam Victim Support service is provided by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), which is a government agency responsible for managing cyber threats in Australia. Scam Victim Support works in conjunction with the ACSC's Scamwatch program, which provides information and advice to the public about how to avoid scams.
How to check for a Scam in Australia
Of course, you can always check for a scam on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.
- The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)- You can always check for investment scams here.
- Foreign Investments Review Board (FIRB)- As the name suggests, you can check for foreign investment-related scams here.
- Scamwatch- On top of reporting scams to them, you can also check out the recent scam activities in Australia.
- The Australian Chamber of Commerce: They represent the largest network of businesses and you can always check them out if you want to know more about business-related fraud.
Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities
- The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)- This is the government agency tasked with safeguarding cyber security.
You can click here to check local consumer protection authorities in your area.
Popular Scams in Australia
“Hi Mum” Scams
As the name suggests, these scams involve text messages that most parents receive. The fraudsters disguise themselves as kids who have lost their phones and replaced them with new ones.
The catch is, the phones are said to have been bought using Afterpay which is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service. The text claims that the bill is due urgently and if left unpaid, late fee charges will be incurred.
In one case, a woman lost as much as A$8,000 to a scammer who had texted her claiming it was the son. To avoid this kind of scam, always take time before responding as this allows you to be rational.
Scam News From Australia
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