News & alerts

Scammers targeting victims again through money recovery scams

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.

5 Apr 2022

Scams awareness week. Stop scams. Speak up.

Scams Awareness Week 2021

Scams Awareness Week 2021 takes place 8-12 November. This Scams Awareness Week we’re encouraging everyone to start a conversation about scams.

8 Nov 2021

Missed delivery, call or voicemail (Flubot) scams

Since August 2021, many Australians have been getting scam text messages about tracking a delivery, missed calls or voicemails, along with a link to download some software. If you receive one of these messages, do not click or tap on the link. Delete the message immediately.

6 Oct 2021

Government impersonation scams on the rise

There has been an increase in scams reported during tax time such as text messages claiming to be from myGov or from agencies claiming to help victims gain early access to their superannuation.

21 Jul 2020

Scams target all sections of Australian society including CALD and Indigenous communities

Data from the ACCC’s annual Targeting Scams report, released this week, indicates scammers don’t discriminate and are targeting a range of different communities in Australia.

25 Jun 2020

Scams cost Australians over $630 million

Australians lost over $634 million to scams in 2019, according to the latest figures in the ACCC’s Targeting Scams report released today.

22 Jun 2020

Victims scammed via Western Union may get refunds

Scamwatch is urging all Australians who lost money to a scammer through Western Union from 2004 to 2017 to take action by the extended deadline of 31 May to try to get it back.

23 Jan 2018

Don’t be taken for a ride this Melbourne Cup

Punters are being warned to watch out for betting and sports investment scams which falsely promise high odds and big returns on Cup Day.

6 Nov 2017

Businesses lost an average of $10,000 to scams in 2016

Nearly 6000 businesses reported being targeted by scams in 2016 according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Targeting Scams report, with losses totalling around $3.8 million, an increase of almost 31 per cent.

19 May 2017

Don't get scammed by a fake online store

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning online shoppers to be wary of scammers masquerading as legitimate online retailers, often selling well-known brands at too-good-to-be-true prices.

20 Mar 2017

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