Scam types
By sharing the latest scam themes, we can create a supportive environment where we can all learn to identify scams early on and prevent them. Let's work together to reduce the shame and embarrassment associated with falling victim to scams.
Impersonation scams
Taking someone's identity or posing as a popular organisation and asking for something, such as personal information or money.
Scammers pose as children or other loved ones in a state of distress to con their parents or guardians into parting with their money. The fraudsters use many channels, including SMS, WhatsApp, and even artificial intelligence voice cloning, to trick victims into giving them personal information or transferring funds to their bank accounts.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Targeting Australians seeking roles on popular reality and renovation shows. Scammers create fake profiles, websites, and popups that look like legitimate networks and talent companies. They aim to steal personal information and may ask for upfront payments to submit an application or secure an audition.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a scam that hackers use to exploit business emails posing as company leaders or trusted partners and send convincing emails asking for payment or sensitive information. Fraudsters can deceive employees into transferring funds, sharing private information, or accessing sensitive data.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Product and service scams
This scam tricks people into giving away personal information by sending fake messages or emails.
These pretend to be from well-known companies like Coles, Qantas, or Telstra, warning about expiring loyalty points and directing you to fake websites that convince you to share your credit card and personal details, which scammers use for illegal activities.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Scammers set up fake websites to deceive you into paying money for popular breeds, cute puppies, or other pets. They set up fake profiles on social media and online marketplaces to convince you to buy a pet that doesn’t exist.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Scammers post ads for rental properties that may not exist or that do exist but that they do not own. Scammers will come up with excuses about why you can’t inspect the property and will ask you to pay a bond or rent in advance. They may also ask you to send identity information like your licence or passport.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Threats and extortion (fines and penalties)
Scammers use fear as a tool. They try to convince you that you owe money and that there may be severe penalties for not paying them.
At the end of each financial year, there's a noticeable rise in scams involving the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). These scams often come in prerecorded and text messages, falsely claiming that you have unpaid tax debts. It's crucial to spot and avoid falling victim to these scams.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
These scams often come via SMS text message or prerecorded phone messages, falsely claiming that you have unpaid fines. It's crucial you do not provide your credit card details to cold callers or voicemail services NSW Government will never ask you to make a payment via a link in a SMS text message. If you are unsure if a NSW Revenue fine is valid, please conduct your own investigation and get in touch with Service NSW.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Romance scam
A romance scam tricks people into thinking they're in a relationship with the scammer, who often uses a fake dating profile to build a close connection. After gaining trust, the scammer asks for money or involves them in fraud. These scams can happen quickly or over the years, targeting people who are emotionally vulnerable while looking for love online.
Jane met David online, charmed by his elaborate stories. He claimed to have spent all his money on his sick granddaughter, convincing Jane to send him money so they could meet. After receiving the funds, David disappeared. Heartbroken, Jane realised she’d been scammed by a seemingly perfect romance that was never real.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Scammers use romance or friendship grooming over a long period of time to gain trust before attempting to convince the target to invest in the stock market, cryptocurrencies, or foreign currency.
Scammers demonstrate their lavish lifestyles and discuss their bank or crypto balances throughout months of friendship in the hope of being asked for advice or tips on how they too can generate such wealth. The scammer will guide them to invest in their scam, which may appear to look legitimate. After investing, the victim may receive fake balances in apps, websites, or statements showing their money's growth, which often encourages the victim to invest more money.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Investment scams
These scams use fake news, dodgy statistics, and phoney celebrity endorsements to advertise false money-making opportunities. These include get-rich-quick, multi-level marketing and ‘guaranteed’ investments, promising high returns with low risk. They use a variety of pressure tactics to steal your money. If someone contacts you to offer an investment opportunity or you find a suspicious website, be wary. It could be a scam. This investor alert list can help you know which companies, businesses, and websites (or ‘entities’) are not to be trusted.
Visit moneysmarts website at Investor alert list - Moneysmart.gov.au
Crypto scams sometimes dupe victims into believing they are trading on real platforms, but the money is actually syphoned into an account held by the scammers, who have built phoney platforms that seem identical to well-known trading sites.
Scammers use money from a new victim to pay out fake returns to those who may doubt or are wanting to leave the scheme to trick the victim into staying, reinvesting or to keep up appearances to new victims.
A pyramid scheme is both an employment and an investment scam, where you earn money by recruiting others rather than selling products. They work by encouraging you to invest money upfront and recruiting others to invest. Most participants, especially at the bottom, lose money, making these schemes illegal and unsustainable.
Jobs and employment scams
Online employment scams use fake job ads or impersonate actual companies to offer high-paying, low-effort jobs. They aim to steal your money and personal information, often by charging an upfront 'recruitment fee' to start a role that doesn't exist, benefiting only the scammer.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Unexpected money
This is a deceptive scheme where scammers contact individuals, claiming they've unexpectedly come into money.
Scammers are taking advantage of personal information available online from family tree and ancestry sites to deceive victims into thinking they've inherited money or estates. By obtaining names similar to those of distant relatives, they trick people into believing they're entitled to inheritance. However, their real goal is to steal money by asking for upfront fees and taxes to handle the probate and will process.
To report a scam or get further information on scams, visit Scamwatch.
Report a scam
Report a scam to Scamwatch the National Anti-Scam Centre and help stop scams, protect others, and get support.
Contact ID Support NSW
If you believe your personal information has been stolen, used, or accessed without your knowledge or consent, our advisors can simplify the process and guide you through protecting your identity, accounts, and devices.
Once you send us a request, we’ll do our best to reply within one business day.
Call our advisors on 1800 001 040 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (Sydney time).
Interpreter services are available on request.
Your identity is important. Let's protect it.
Stay on top of the latest scams and identity theft trends with our quarterly newsletter, which also includes helpful education tips and tools.