34 results, showing 1 to 10
![](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/related-article/Scam33_0.jpg?itok=5791e9aY)
The financial and emotional devastation caused by scams every year in Australia can be reduced if government, consumer groups and the private sector work together.
![two women's trying to make an online payment on their laptop](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/type-of-scam-images/unusual-payment-scam-thumb.jpg?itok=MKza5OET)
Australian businesses lost $227 million to payment redirection scams in 2021, a 77 per cent increase compared to 2020, the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report reveals.
![](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/related-article/false-billing-phone-scam-2_1.jpg?itok=fyZ-wGQt)
Scammers stole over $66 million last year from Indigenous Australians, people who identified as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), and people with disability
![A couple browsing on their laptop while on a phone call](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/type-of-scam-images/online-shopping2-thumb.jpg?itok=xTcxv3Qp)
Australians lost a record amount to scams in 2021, despite government, law enforcement, and the private sector disrupting more scam activity than ever before.
![Unusual payment scam victims](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/unusual-payment-scam-800x400.jpg?itok=wqElZhRL)
Scamwatch is warning people to be aware of uninvited offers of help to recover money for an up-front payment, following a spike in reports of money recovery scams.
![](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/featured/1531-Scamwatch-Targeting-Scams-Report-THM_1.png?itok=zLnq7f6s)
Last year scammers stole close to $34 million collectively from people who identified as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability, and Indigenous Australians.
![](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/featured/1531-Scamwatch-Targeting-Scams-Report-THM_1.png?itok=zLnq7f6s)
Australians lost over $851 million to scams in 2020, a record amount, as scammers took advantage of the pandemic to con unsuspecting people, according to the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report released today.
![](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/featured/merry%20christmas_0.jpg?itok=2ylIG5_p)
Losses to online shopping scams have increased 42 per cent this year, and Scamwatch is warning Australians to be careful when buying gifts this holiday season.
![](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/featured/Handcuffs.jpg?itok=rBkgOPHv)
Australians have lost over $8.8 million to threat based scams so far this year, and young people are reporting the highest losses.
![a lady on a phone call looking concerned and hands on her forehead](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/type-of-scam-images/identity-theft2-thumb.jpg?itok=GcPpYtAJ)
Australians have lost over $300,000 to rental and accommodation scams this year, an increase of 76 per cent compared to the same time last year.