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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.
![Scams awareness week. Stop scams. Speak up.](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/2021-11/sawhome.png?itok=ZWpW0XdY)
Scams Awareness Week 2021 takes place 8-12 November. This Scams Awareness Week we’re encouraging everyone to start a conversation about scams.
![a lady on a phone call looking concerned](/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/scamwatch_news/public/related-article/false-billing-phone-scam-2.jpg?itok=F6msfd5h)
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.
Australians reported a record $211 million in losses to scams so far this year, an 89 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to new data from Scamwatch.
![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)
Police have received reports of scams involving fake Australian Federal Police (AFP) representatives targeting vulnerable members of the community.
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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.
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Payment redirection scams were the most financially damaging scams for Australian businesses in 2020 according to the ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report.
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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.
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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.
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Australians have lost over $8.8 million to threat based scams so far this year, and young people are reporting the highest losses.