Scams are everywhere, targeting people from all walks of life and costing Australians billions of dollars each year. Whether it’s fake emails, unexpected phone calls or online schemes, scammers always find new ways to gain your trust and steal your money or personal information. But 3 simple steps can help keep us all safe from scammers.
STOP.
Always take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone.
Scammers will create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Don’t rush to make decisions about money or sharing personal details.
What to do:
- Say no, hang up, or delete suspicious messages.
- Take time to think before responding to unexpected requests.
- Don’t let anyone pressure you into immediate action.
- Trust your instincts if something feels wrong.
CHECK.
Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real.
Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you’re really dealing with before taking any action.
What to do:
- Contact the organisation directly using phone numbers or email addresses you find on their official website or app.
- Research investment opportunities or offers through official sources like ASIC.
- Get a second opinion from family, friends, or professionals.
PROTECT.
Act quickly if something feels wrong.
The sooner you act, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.
What to do:
- Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve lost money or shared financial details.
- Contact IDCARE (www.idcare.org or call 1800 595 160) if you want support to recover — they can help you create a plan to limit the damage of scams.
- Report to Scamwatch (www.scamwatch.gov.au) to help protect others.
- Report to police (www.cyber.gov.au).
- Change passwords and security details if you think they’ve been compromised.
- Monitor your bank statements and credit reports for unusual activity.
- Report the scam to the impersonated organisation and platform where the scam is happening.
- Being scammed can feel overwhelming. Support is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Stay safe from scams
Common signs that something is a scam and how to stay protected.
Steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.
You can play a vital role in protecting your loved one from harm if they are involved in a scam.
Here you’ll find our Little Book of Scams for First Nations peoples, social media posts for you to share, posters for your workplace or community centre and more.
Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels across Australia. Find out in your language how to protect yourself from scams.
Scams information in your language