Latest News from Scamwatch

Published 11 Mar 2025 Summary The National Anti-Scam Centre’s latest Targeting Scams Report found scam losses reported to key organisations fell by 25.9 per cent to $2 billion in 2024, showing the efforts by government, industry, law enforcement and community organisations are reducing the financial impact of scams on Australians.

Published 11 Feb 2025 Summary Criminals are impersonating real businesses and offering fake sustainability investment bonds. They claim these bonds offer high returns and are protected by the government.

Published 9 Dec 2024 Summary Scammers routinely take over or set up fake profiles on social media, messaging platforms and apps. Be aware of scammers using social media to contact you to steal personal and financial details.

Published 4 Dec 2024 Summary Scammers are targeting online shoppers during the festive season, especially with Christmas shopping and Boxing Day sales. Criminals create fake websites to look like well-known brands. They pretend to sell products at unusually low prices and may write fake reviews to make the website look legitimate.

Published 20 Nov 2024 Summary Criminals are calling people and pretending to be from a trusted organisation like a bank, IT company or phone company. They will say your bank accounts or computers aren’t secure, ask for your PIN and tell you to leave your bank card in your letterbox so it can be cancelled and replaced.

Published 24 Oct 2024 Summary Criminals are emailing people claiming they have hacked into their computers or webcams and have access to compromising images and videos of them. These criminals threaten victims saying they will release the images and videos unless they are paid.

Published 22 Oct 2024 Summary Criminals are impersonating charities and offering fake financial assistance schemes to target people experiencing financial hardship.

Published 18 Oct 2024 Summary Criminals are calling, emailing or messaging people and pretending to be from their bank so that they can steal your money.

Published 23 Aug 2024 Summary This Scams Awareness Week (26 to 30 August) the National Anti-Scam Centre is encouraging Australians to speak up, share their experiences with others and to report scams to Scamwatch.

Published 20 Jul 2024 Summary The National Anti-Scam Centre is warning consumers and small businesses to be wary of unsolicited calls, emails or messages requesting they download a software patch or provide remote access to fix or protect their computer from the CrowdStrike/Microsoft outage.