News & alerts

Australians should be aware scammers are adapting existing technology to play on people’s fears around coronavirus and selling products claiming to prevent or cure the virus.

Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of the spread of coronavirus to exploit and play on the fears of consumers across Australia.

Australians under 25 lost over $5 million to scams in 2019 and reports made from this age group are increasing faster than older generations.

Scamwatch is warning all Australians to be on the lookout for bushfire fundraising scams and do their research when donating so that money can get to those who are in need, rather than those who would take advantage.

There are currently a wide range of appeals raising funds for people and animals affected by the bushfires. Unfortunately, some of these are scams.

Scamwatch is warning people to be cautious of online shopping scams in the lead up to the holiday season.

Australians are set to lose a record amount to scams in 2019, with projections from losses reported to Scamwatch and other government agencies so far expected to exceed $532 million by the end of the year, surpassing half a billion dollars for the first time.

Gift cards are increasingly the payment method of choice for scammers. Scamwatch reports show more than $5 million was lost in 2018, a 38 per cent increase compared with 2017.

Scamwatch is warning people to be careful about being caught out by holiday season scams.

Scammers are increasingly using fake charities or impersonating real charities to take advantage of people’s generosity and compassion, with losses reported to the ACCC’s Scamwatch increasing steadily over the past four years.