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page_num,text
1,"How to spot  
and avoid scams
The 
Little 
Book of 
Scams"
2,"ii
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission  
Ngunnawal  
23 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601 
© Commonwealth of Australia 2024
This work is copyright. In addition to any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , all material 
contained within this work is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence, 
with the exception of:
 ƒthe Commonwealth Coat of Arms
 ƒthe ACCC and AER logos
 ƒany illustration, diagram, photograph or graphic over which the Australian Competition and 
Consumer Commission does not hold copyright, but which may be part of or contained within 
this publication.
The details of the relevant licence conditions are available on the Creative Commons website, as is 
the full legal code for the CC BY 4.0 AU licence. 
Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Director, 
Strategic Communications, ACCC, GPO Box 3131, Canberra ACT 2601.
Important notice 
The information in this publication is for general guidance only. It does not constitute legal or 
other professional advice, and should not be relied on as a statement of the law in any jurisdiction. 
Because it is intended only as a general guide, it may contain generalisations. You should obtain 
professional advice if you have any specific concern. 
The ACCC has made every reasonable effort to provide current and accurate information, but it does 
not make any guarantees regarding the accuracy, currency or completeness of that information. 
Parties who wish to re-publish or otherwise use the information in this publication must check 
this information for currency and accuracy prior to publication. This should be done prior to each 
publication edition, as ACCC guidance and relevant transitional legislation frequently change. Any 
queries parties have should be addressed to the General Manager, Strategic Communications, 
ACCC, GPO Box 3131, Canberra ACT 2601.
ACCC 08/24_24-13
www.accc.gov.auAcknowledgment of country
The ACCC acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians 
of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing 
connection to the land, sea and community. We pay our respects 
to them and their cultures; and to their Elders past, present and future."
3,"iii
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsContents
Help is at hand 1
What is a scam 3
How to spot and avoid scams 4
Text or SMS scams  7
Email scams  11
Phone scams 15
Website scams  19
Social media, app-based and online messaging scams 23
Common scams you should know about  27
Where to report scams 31
More help and support 33
"
4,"iv
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
5,"v
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsThis guide is written by the National Anti-Scam 
Centre and will help you identify and protect 
yourself from scams. 
A scam is a crime and people who commit scams are criminals. 
Many people in Australia are being scammed and having their 
money stolen, sometimes even their life savings. Scams hurt 
people’s lives.
Scams are getting harder to spot, so we need to work together to 
stop them.
The National Anti-Scam Centre works to keep Australians safe 
from scams. 
We work with government and industry to find new ways to stop 
scammers from stealing money and personal information from 
Australians. Here are some of the ways we achieve this.
We help people spot and avoid scams
Through Scamwatch we share up-to-date information on scams 
and ways you can protect yourself from scams.
We disrupt scammers
By collecting and sharing intelligence across government and 
industry, we make it harder for scammers to continue their crimes 
and make it easier for people to report scams.
"
6,"vi
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
7,"1
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsHelp is at hand
If you’re reading this, chances are you, or 
someone you know has been the target 
of a scammer. Unfortunately, you’re not 
alone. Scams are getting more and more 
sophisticated which means anyone can 
be a victim.
If you have been scammed, it’s important you act quickly.
If you’ve given banking information or had money stolen by a 
scammer, contact your bank or card provider first.
Contact IDCARE, 1800 595 160 , www.id care.org . 
Scams succeed because they look like the real thing. Scammers 
rely on you not spotting warning signs because you’re in a hurry, 
something looks like a great deal you don’t want to miss, or 
because it seems like it’s from someone you trust.
"
8,"2
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsProtect yourself from scams by following 
these 3 steps:
StopDon’t give money or personal 
information to anyone if unsure.
Scammers will offer to help you or ask you 
to verify who you are. They will pretend to 
be from organisations you know and trust 
like service providers, the police, your bank 
or government services.
CheckAsk yourself could the message  
or call be fake?
Never click a link in a message. Only 
contact businesses or government using 
contact information that you find yourself 
from their official website or app. If you’re 
not sure, say ‘no’, hang up or delete.
Protect Act quickly if something feels wrong.
Contact your bank if you notice unusual 
activity or if a scammer gets your money or 
information. Seek help and report the scam 
to ReportCyber and Scamwatch. When you 
report scams, you help us stop the scam 
and warn others.
"
9,"3
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsWhat is a scam
A scam is when someone deceives you to steal 
your money or personal information. 
Scams are economic crimes run by criminals who are often very 
organised and sophisticated. 
Computer 
hackingUnfair contract 
terms Harassing marketing 
approachesA scam is NOT:
It’s important to remember that not all negative experiences are 
scams. You might have paid for a product that you never received 
or bought something and found the quality was poor. While this 
is disappointing, they are not necessarily scams. The Australian 
Consumer Law offers protections to Australian consumers for 
these sorts of issues. 
For more information visit www.accc.gov.au /consumersare run by criminals
look real
come with believable stories
pressure you to take an actionScams:
"
10,"4
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsHow to spot and 
avoid scams
Scams can happen to all of us. Scams work 
because scammers create believable stories 
to steal your money and get your personal 
information.
Scammers are getting smarter and taking advantage of new 
technology, products, services, and major events to convince you 
that their scams are real.
It can be very hard to spot a scam. Here are some situations 
to watch out for. Sometimes scammers use a combination of 
these tactics.
1. Opportunities to make or save money: Scammers will 
deceive you into believing you’re getting an incredible deal 
or offer. They will put pressure on you to act quickly so you 
don’t miss out. Remember, deals that seem too good to be 
true, usually are.
2. Sad stories and cries for help: Scammers will try and use 
your good nature against you. They will share stories of 
heartbreak and tragedy with you and explain why they need 
your help and your money.
3. Links and attachments:  Scammers use links to send you 
to scam websites designed to steal your information and 
money. Scammers may also ask you to open attachments. 
These can install viruses that steal your information. 
"
11,"5
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams4. Pressure to act quickly: Scammers don’t want you to take 
your time and think things through. They want to pressure 
you into acting quickly. This can include making threats that 
something bad will happen if you don’t act fast.
5. Requests that you pay in unusual or specific ways:  
Scammers often ask you to pay using uncommon methods 
like preloaded debit cards, iTunes cards, or virtual currency 
like Bitcoin. Once this money is spent, you can’t get it back.
6. Request to set up new accounts or PayIDs: Scammers may 
ask you to set up a new bank account or PayID in order to 
pay them (or be paid by them). They may pretend to be your 
bank and tell you to transfer your money into new accounts 
to keep it safe. 
If scammers have succeeded in taking your money, they will try to 
get more money from you. Unfortunately, one in three scam victims 
have been scammed more than once. If scammers have stolen 
your money, be on the lookout for scammers offering to help you 
get your money back. This is another kind of follow-up scam.
"
12,"6
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
13,"7
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsText or SMS scams 
Scammers send messages pretending to be 
from the government, law enforcement, trusted 
businesses, or even your own family or friends.
These messages will sound urgent and try to get you to act 
quickly. They will often have a link which will take you to a scam 
website. Scammers can steal any personal information entered 
on these scam websites and use it to take your money or commit 
fraud in your name.
To make these messages seem real, scammers copy or disguise 
their phone number behind the phone number and caller ID of 
legitimate businesses or people you know.
Scam messages can even appear in the same message chain 
as real messages from the organisation, making them even 
harder to spot.
"
14,"8
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSigns a message might be a scam
The message:
Asks you to take immediate action, make a 
payment, or transfer money.
Asks you to click on a link or call a number 
provided in the message. 
Asks you to log on to an online account with 
your username and password or to provide other 
personal information.
Is from a family member or friend saying their 
contact details have changed.
Threatens to stop a service or charge you if you 
don’t act.
Suggests you or your accounts have been hacked 
or involved in fraud.
Suggests that there is a problem with your 
payment or your package delivery."
15,"9
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSteps to protect yourself from 
messaging scams
1. If someone you know sends a message to say 
they have a new phone number:
a. try to call them on the existing number you 
have for them, or 
b. message them on the new number with a 
question only they would know the answer 
to, to check they are who they say they are.
2. Never click on links in messages. 
3. If a message links to a website, don’t click the 
link. Instead, search for the website yourself 
online, or use the official app. 
4. Don’t respond to a text message using the 
phone number provided. 
5. Call the organisation or person back on a 
phone number you have found yourself, such 
as from the organisation’s website. "
16,"10
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
17,"11
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsEmail scams
Scammers send emails pretending to be 
from the government, law enforcement and 
businesses. They make it sound urgent to get 
you to act quickly.
Scammers use the same logo and a similar email address as the 
real organisation. Scammers can also copy or disguise their email 
address behind the email address of an organisation or business 
to make the scam email look more real.
"
18,"12
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSigns an email might be a scam
The email:
Requests a payment but the account details are 
new or have changed since the last payment you 
made.
Asks you to log on to an online account with 
your username and password or to provide other 
personal information.
Was unexpected and includes an attachment with 
an invitation to open it.
Asks you to confirm your banking details to 
receive a refund or money you are not expecting.
Claims to have information about you or images of 
you and threatens to release them.
Offers to help you recover money or get 
compensation for a data breach or identity theft."
19,"13
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSteps to protect yourself from email scams
1. Check that the email is real by:
	ƒcontacting the person or organisation 
directly using contact details you’ve found 
yourself such as from the organisation’s 
website or via their official app (never via 
a link).
2. Immediately stop contact with anyone who 
tries to threaten or intimidate you.
3. Never give personal details or pay anyone 
offering you:
a. compensation or help to recover from a 
previous scam or data breach or,
b. winnings, prizes or an inheritance.
4. Use multi-factor authentication when you can. 
This provides an extra layer of protection and 
means a scammer has to know your email 
password and a pin number sent to your phone 
to gain access to your email account. "
20,"14
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
21,"15
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsPhone scams
Scammers call, claiming to be from well-
known organisations. This includes 
government organisations, law enforcement, 
investment and law firms, banks, and 
telecommunication providers. 
They make it sound urgent to get you to act quickly. They may 
try to convince you to give them your personal or bank account 
details, or access to your computer. 
The caller may already have some details about you, such as your 
name or address, making the call seem real. 
"
22,"16
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSigns a phone call might be a scam
The caller:
Asks for payment or asks you to move money to a 
new account.
Asks you for your password, pin, one-time code, or 
some other security information.
Asks you for your financial details, such as credit 
card or banking details.
Asks you to complete an action on your mobile 
phone or computer such as installing software or 
accessing a secure account.
Claims to be from law enforcement and threatens 
you with immediate arrest or deportation.
Says your bank or other online accounts have 
been hacked or involved in fraud."
23,"17
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSteps to protect yourself from 
phone scams
1. Check that the call is real by either:
a. contacting the person or organisation 
directly using contact details you’ve 
found yourself such as from the 
organisation’s website or,
b. accessing an organisation via their official 
app (never via a link).
2. If you are not sure who a caller is or if 
they threaten or intimidate you, hang up 
immediately. 
3. Never install software that allows someone 
access to your computer or device.
4. You can ignore calls from numbers you don’t 
know or let calls go to voicemail. 
Good to know! 
Scammers can still phone you even if you have a 
private number or are on the Do Not Call register . "
24,"18
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
25,"19
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsWebsite scams
Scammers can pretend to be anyone online, 
including the government, a real business, 
celebrities or your friends or family. 
They can create fake websites to look like well-known brands. 
They may impersonate famous people and make it look like they 
are approving goods or services. These websites can contain fake 
reviews to make you trust them. 
You might see fake advertising banners or pop-up windows that 
contain fake warnings or error messages when online. 
"
26,"20
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSigns a website might be a scam
The website:
Offers items for sale at significantly lower prices 
than usual or compared to other sites.
Tells you about a way to make quick, easy money 
with little risk or effort.
Contains an urgent warning or error message 
asking you to click a link.
Asks for payment in unusual or specific ways such 
as gift cards or cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.
Only includes positive reviews. 
Good to know! 
Scammers can pay for online sponsored ads.  
Just because it’s a paid advertisement doesn’t 
mean it’s not a scam."
27,"21
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSteps to protect yourself from 
website scams
1. Compare prices. If an offer appears too good 
to be true, it probably is.
2. Research the organisation or person you are 
dealing with before giving your money or 
personal information.
3. Don’t rely on reviews written on the website 
itself. Search the website or business name 
and the word ‘scam’ or ‘reviews’.
4. If a warning or error message pops up on 
your screen don’t click on it, instead go to 
the application it refers to directly to check if 
it is real. 
5. Keep the device you use for online shopping 
up to date by enabling ‘automatic updates’ for 
your operating system and apps.
Good to know! 
Practical ways to protect yourself online  
are available on www.cy ber.gov.au"
28,"22
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
29,"23
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
Social media,  
app-based and online 
messaging scams
If someone you don’t know contacts you 
on social media, a messaging platform 
like WhatsApp or WeChat, or via an app, it 
could be a scam. 
Scammers pretending to be someone else will often use the real 
photo of the person or official logo of the organisation they are 
pretending to be, to make the scam harder to spot. 
Scammers on social media will set up fake profiles and pretend 
to be from the government, a real business, employer, investment 
firm, or even a friend, family member or romantic interest. 
They may impersonate famous people and make it look like they 
are promoting goods or services. 
Scammers can also learn a lot about you from details you share 
on your social media accounts. They can use this information to 
guess your account passwords or target you with other scams.  
"
30,"24
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSigns of a social media or app scam
Using a social media profile or app the scammer:
Tells you about a way to make quick, easy money 
with little risk or effort.
Invites you to enter a competition or limited time 
offer.
Requests to move your conversation from an app 
such as a dating app to private chat or email.
Suggests a famous person endorses or supports 
a product or service.
Says someone will buy something you are selling 
without seeing it first and at a high price.
Threatens to share a private picture of you unless 
you pay them money.
Contacts you to offer you a job.
Good to know! 
Information on how to stay safe on different social 
media platforms can be found on www.esaf ety.gov.au"
31,"25
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsSteps to protect yourself from social media 
and app-based scams
1. Check if the profile might be fake. Is the 
account active? How many friends/followers 
do they have and how much do they 
post online? 
2. Search the name of the profile online together 
with the word ‘scam.’ 
3. Never take a job you were offered without an 
interview, or discussion about your experience, 
suitability, and references. Research the 
recruiter and the business or individual 
offering the position. Contact the recruitment 
agency via phone numbers sourced from an 
independent internet search.  
Don’t pay money up front just to secure a job.
4. Only take investment advice from someone 
with an Australian Financial Services license  
and check that a company or website is not 
named on the International Organization of 
Securities Commission’s (IOSCO) investor 
alerts portal.
5. Never give money to a person you have only 
met online. Scammers often say they live 
overseas and can’t meet you in person.
6. Never send intimate pictures of yourself to 
someone you have only met online. 
For more information about scams including other ways that scammers 
might contact you, such as in-person and by mail, visit Scamwatch ."
32,"26
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
33,"27
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
Common scams you 
should know about 
Here are some of the most common scam 
types for you to be aware of. You can find more 
information on each of these types of scams, 
including warning signs and steps to protect 
yourself, on the Scamwat ch website. 
Impersonation scams
Scammers try and convince you to give them your personal 
information by pretending to be from trusted organisations such 
as the police, government, banks, and well-known businesses. 
They can even pretend to be your friend or family member. They 
try to get information about you by sending phishing emails or 
messages. These are designed to steal your information. 
Scammers use technology to make their calls or messages 
appear to come from a legitimate phone number. They can 
make text messages appear in the same conversation thread as 
genuine messages from an organisation. 
Investment scams
Scammers use convincing marketing and new technology to 
make their investment sound too good to miss. They promise you 
big dividends with little or no risk. They often use pressure tactics 
to get you to act fast, so they can steal your money.
"
34,"28
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsJobs and employment scams
Scammers offer jobs that pay well with little effort. They pretend 
to be hiring on behalf of high-profile companies and online 
shopping platforms. Sometimes, the job they list doesn’t even 
exist. Scammers also impersonate well-known recruitment 
agencies. Their goal is to steal your money and personal 
information. The may ask you to pay money up front to be able to 
work for them.
Products and services scams
Scammers pose as buyers or sellers to steal your money. They 
set up fake websites or profiles on legitimate retailer sites offering 
products or services at prices that are too good to be true. They 
post fake ads and fake reviews. They may use stolen logos, a 
.com.au domain name and stolen Australian Business Number 
(ABN). These scams are hard to spot. 
Scammers also pose as businesses that you know and trust to 
send you fake bills. They can even change details on legitimate 
invoices so that customers end up paying the scammer 
instead of you. 
Romance scams
Scammers use the promise of love, dating, or friendship to 
steal your money. They go to great lengths to convince you the 
relationship is real and manipulate you to give them money. 
Scammers find you on social media, dating or gaming apps and 
websites. They might also text or email you. They hide behind 
fake profiles and identities, sometimes of famous people. Once 
you trust them, they will have an ‘emergency’ and ask for your 
help. This will often be requests for money or other products. 
"
35,"29
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsThreats and extortion scams
Scammers pretend to be from a trusted organisation and claim 
you need to pay money or something bad will happen. They may 
threaten you with arrest, deportation, or even physical harm, if you 
don’t agree to pay them immediately. 
They can also blackmail you by threatening to share naked 
pictures or videos you have sent them unless you send 
them money. 
Unexpected money scams
Scammers try to convince you that you are owed or entitled to, 
money or winnings that you did not expect to receive. 
The scammer asks you to pay a fee or to give your banking or 
identity details before you can collect the money or winnings. 
Unfortunately, there is no free money. 
"
36,"30
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
37,"31
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsWhere to report scams
We’re working to make Australia a harder target 
for scammers by raising awareness about how 
to spot, avoid, and report scams. 
We share information from scam reports and work with 
government, law enforcement, and the private sector to disrupt 
and prevent scams. 
Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch. Report your scam 
experience to Scamwatch via the report form on the Scamwatch 
website www.scamwat ch.gov.au  
Reports can be made anonymously or on behalf of another 
person. We will only share information from your scam report if 
you provide consent.
Remember, if you are a victim of a scam, it’s important you 
act quickly.
	ƒ  If a scammer has stolen your money, contact your bank or 
card provider.
	ƒ Contact ID CARE: 1800 595 160 | idcare.org  
"
38,"32
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scams
"
39,"33
ACCC  |  How to spot and avoid scamsMore help and support
Being a victim of a scam can feel overwhelming. 
It’s important to remember that it can happen 
to anyone, and support is available. 
If you or someone you know has been scammed, talk to someone 
about it. You can seek support from family, friends, your GP or 
one of the following support services. 
Lifeline: 13 11 14 | lifeli ne.org.au   
or online crisis support chat (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 | beyondb lue.org.au  
or online chat (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpli ne.com.au   
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
The financial impacts of scams can be devastating and life changing. 
If you are experiencing financial hardship you can speak with a 
financial counsellor through the National Debt Helpline :  
1800 007 007  from 9:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday  
or access Live Chat from 9:00am – 8:00pm Monday to Friday.
"

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[Listen](https://app.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=6498&lang=en_au&readclass=content-wrapper&voice=Karen&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scamwatch.gov.au%2Ftypes-of-scams%2Femail-scams ""Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker"")

Email scams
===========

Scam emails look like the real thing, but watch out for links and attachments designed to steal your money or information.

Scammers send 'urgent' emails pretending to be from the government, law enforcement and businesses.

They use the same logo and a similar email address as the real organisation. Scammers can also copy or 'spoof' the email address of an organisation or business to make the scam email look more real.

On this page
------------

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

Stop and think. There's a good chance it's a scam if the email:

*   Contains a link or attachment that asks you to log on to an online service with your username and password or to provide other personal information
*   Requests a payment but the bank account and BSB details are new or have changed since the last payment you made
*   Claims to be from a well-known organisation or government agency but is sent from a free webmail address (for example @gmail.com, @yahoo.com.au)

Common scams via email include:

*   asking you to confirm your banking details so they can give you a ‘refund’
*   providing you with a phone number to call urgently
*   making a threat such as immediate arrest, deportation, or blackmail 
*   threatening to stop a service or charge a fine if you don’t act
*   stating you’ve been a victim of identity crime and offering compensation or help to recover money lost to scams

Steps you can take to avoid email scams
---------------------------------------

These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams:

### Check that the email is real 

*   Contact the organisation or person using details you have found yourself (on their website or in the phone book) to check if the email was real
*   Access the organisations’ secure, authenticated portal or app directly (never via a link)

### Learn how to protect your email account

*   Use unique passwords for different accounts and consider using a password manager so you don’t need to remember every single password you use.
*   Use [multi-factor authentication (link is external)](https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/resources-protect-yourself/personal-security-guides/protect-yourself-multi-factor-authentication)
    when you can. This provides an extra layer of protection and means a scammer has to correctly guess your email password and a pin number sent to your phone to gain access to your email account.

eSafety has more advice on [how to keep your email secure(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/women/being-social/email)
 and the Australian Cyber Security Centre has a step-by-step guide on [how to check the security of your email accounts(link is external)](https://www.cyber.gov.au/report-and-recover/recover-from/email-compromise/what-do-if-youve-been-attacked/review-your-email-account-security)
 following an incident or suspicious behaviour.

### Be scam aware

Watch out for other [common signs of a scam](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/ways-to-spot-and-avoid-scams)
 and immediately cut contact with anyone who tries to threaten or intimidate you.

Never give personal details or payment to anyone offering compensation or help you recover from a previous scam or data breach or winnings, prizes or an inheritance.

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/email-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Common Email scam types


---------------------------

![Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons%2520_Impersonation%5B1%5D.png?itok=nbJ7FrsR)

### [Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams)

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information.

![Unexpected money](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Unexpected_money%5B1%5D.png?itok=5KdBmcd7)

### [Unexpected money](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money)

Don't be lured by a surprise win. These scams try to deceive you into giving money upfront or your personal information in order to receive a prize from a lottery or competition that you never entered.

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Thanks for your feedback."
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Impersonation scams
===================

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information. Don’t assume a person you are dealing with is who they say they are.

Scammers trick you into thinking they are from organisations such as the police, government, banks, and well-known businesses. They can even pretend to be your friend or family member.

Scammers use technology to make their call appear to come from a legitimate phone number. Their texts appear in the same conversation thread as genuine messages from an organisation.

On this page
------------

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

*   You receive a message that asks you to click on a link that takes you to a webpage asking for your username, password, or personal information.  
*   There is an urgent request for action, and you are asked to provide personal details or money quickly.
*   An organisation that you think is real, tells you there has been an unauthorised transaction, or asks you to confirm a payment that you didn’t make.
*   A business asks you to use a different bank account and BSB from the last payment you made.
*   You’re contacted by someone pretending to be from a government department, regulator or law enforcement and they threaten immediate arrest, deportation, or ask you to pay money.
*   You’re asked to transfer money to an account to ‘keep it safe’ or for ‘further investigation’.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

*   Check that a message is real by either:
    *   contacting the person or organisation directly using contact details you’ve found yourself on the organisations official website or,
    *   accessing the organisations’ secure, authenticated portal or app (never via a link).
*   Immediately cut contact with anyone who tries to threaten or intimidate you.
*   Don’t open or download any attachments or apps as these can install malicious software on to your computer or phone.
*   Watch out for slight variations in Caller or Sender IDs like dots, special characters, or numbers.
*   If someone you know sends a message to say they have a new phone number:
    *   try to call them on the existing number you have for them
    *   message them on the new number with a question only they would know the answer to. That way you will know if they are who they say they are.
*   Don’t click on links in text messages or emails.
*   Find steps to keep your email secure on [eSafety(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/women/being-social/email)
     - Australia's independent regulator for online safety.
*   Read more about how to have safer, more positive online experiences on [eSafety(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/)
    .

Think you’ve been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

[Find out more about what to do if you've been scammed](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)

Common impersonation scams


------------------------------

Open all Close all

[### Government impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-1)

Scammers will pretend to be from trusted government organisations or use brands such as myGov, Service Australia, Centrelink or the Australian Taxation Office to gain your trust.  Sometimes scammers claim to be from international government organisations as Chinese Authority scams.

They try to get your personal information, by contacting you on social media or sending a link in a text message or email.  They may also call and threaten you with immediate arrest, deportation, or other legal action.

Government organisations won’t ever send a text message or email with a link to log onto online services such as myGov.

[### Bank impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-2)

Scammers can make their calls and text messages appear to come from your bank. They can even send you text messages that appear in the same chain as other genuine messages.

They will come up with a believable story and convince you to take action. They may ask you for personal information or tell you to click a link to verify your account. They may also ask you to make an immediate payment, or transfer money to another account to keep it safe from suspected fraudulent activity.  Clicking these links can install malware on your device.  

[### Business Email compromise (BEC) scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-3)

Scammers gain access to an organisation’s emails and may pose as a senior member or trusted employee of the organisation to cause harm. Scammers will email clients, customers, and others that deal with the organisation to ask for payments. They will change banking details on legitimate invoices so that payments are sent to scammer accounts instead of to the actual organisation.

Common scams associated with business email compromise include:

*   Invoice fraud
*   Employee impersonation
*   Company impersonation

More information on business email compromise scams is available [here(link is external)](https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/maintaining-devices-and-systems/system-hardening-and-administration/email-hardening/protecting-against-business-email-compromise)
.

[### Charity impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-4)

Scammers can take advantage of people’s goodwill by pretending they are collecting money on behalf of a charity when they are not. They may call, email, or approach you on the street seeking donations for a charity. They may set up fake websites that look like those run by real charities or create totally fake ones.

To confirm you’re dealing with a real charity check [here(link is external)](https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities)
.

[### Celebrity impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-5)

Scammers use the image and name of famous people without their permission, to get you to buy their product or invest your money. Scammers choose well-known and respected celebrities that people trust to carry out scams. They set up fake profiles on social media platforms and even create fake news articles about the impersonated celebrity. They will often endorse products, schemes, or investments that are completely fabricated.

Some romance scammers also pretend to be celebrities. 

[### Friends/Family (Hi Mum) impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-6)

Scammers send messages pretending to be a family member or a friend desperate for money. They say they have a new phone, and they need you to pay money to help them out of a crisis. Sometimes scammers may even use your family or friend’s real photo making the scam harder to spot.  

[### Relationship impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams#collapse-accordion-8782-7)

Relationship scammers form romantic connections or friendships with their victims, but their goal is to steal money from you.

Their online profile is usually fake, and they target you through dating websites and apps, social media channels and your email address.

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Thanks for your feedback."
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In-person scams
===============

Some scams take place in person. Scammers may knock on your door or approach you in public and ask you to do something. They might:

*   ask for upfront payment for goods and services
*   pressure you into completing a survey to get your personal details
*   ask for donations to a ‘charity’.

Some door-to-door sales may not be a scam. Find out more information about your [rights and protections when approached by a door-to-door salesperson(link is external)](http://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/sales-delivery/telemarketing-door-to-door-sales)
.

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

Stop and think.

Does the person

*   request payment via unsecure methods such as cash or gift cards?
*   refuse to provide receipts for goods, services, or charitable donations?

If so, watch out – it sounds like a scam.

Scammers use common scam tactics to coerce you, such as:

*   asking you to take immediate action
*   offering items for sale at significantly lower prices than usual or compared to other sites
*   telling you about a way to make quick, easy money with little risk or effort.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams.

*   Do not use the phone number or contact details listed on the letter – if you want to follow up to check if the letter is real by contacting the person or organisation directly. Always use contact details you’ve found yourself such as in the phone book or by looking up the organisation's website.
*   Speak to someone you trust like a friend or family member before acting.
*   Do not pay money in order to receive a ‘prize’.

These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams.

*   If someone knocks on your door and you don’t know who they are, you don’t have to open your door.
*   Ask to see identification of anyone claiming to be a charity worker, government, or law enforcement official. Call the organisation on a number you found yourself to check their credentials if unsure.
*   Never give upfront payment to a door-to-door salesperson, especially if they ask for cash only.
*   Check a charity is registered on the [Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission(link is external)](https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity)
     (ACNC) website.
*   If an offer appears too good to be true it probably is. Research any investment opportunity fully before investing money. Visit [MoneySmart(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/)
     for advice.
*   At any time, say no and ask the person to leave if you’re unsure or feel uncomfortable.

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/in-person-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Common In person scam types


-------------------------------

![Product and service scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_%2520Product_Service%5B1%5D.png?itok=4-gVxeO2)

### [Product and service scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams)

Scammers prey on consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services. Not every transaction is legitimate.

![Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons%2520_Impersonation%5B1%5D.png?itok=nbJ7FrsR)

### [Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams)

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information.

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Thanks for your feedback."
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Investment scams
================

Investment scams promise big returns, but the goal is stealing money from you.

Australians lose more money to investment scams than any other type of scam. These scams can be hard to spot.

Don't lose your life savings to a money-making opportunity that's too good to be true.

Criminals impersonate legitimate investment and finance companies. They also use convincing marketing and new technology to make their investment sound too good to miss. They promise you big payouts with little or no risk. They often use pressure tactics to get you to act fast, so they can steal your money.

Scammers create fake data to make you think your investment is growing. They may build your trust by allowing you to make small withdrawals, but when you try to withdraw all your funds they will come up with reasons not to pay you. You can lose access to your money.

On this page
------------

**Warning signs it might be a scam**
------------------------------------

*   Fake news stories or ads that claim a celebrity recommends this scheme to make big money.
*   An online contact (a friend or romantic interest) that you've never met in person starts talking to you about investing.
*   Emails, websites or ads with testimonials and over-the-top promises of big returns. 
*   High pressure tactics designed to rush you to act so you don't 'miss out'.
*   The 'adviser' who is helping you claims that they don't need an Australian financial services (AFS) license.
*   You are asked to promote the scheme to friends and family to earn commission.

**Steps you can take to protect yourself**
------------------------------------------

Always stop and check before you act. These scams will often pressure you to act quickly. Don't let them rush you into a bad decision.

Get independent legal advice, or financial advice from a financial advisor [registered with ASIC(link is external)](https://asic.gov.au/online-services/search-asic-s-registers/)
.

Do your research and check:

*   the company or website is not named on the [Moneysmart investor alert list(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/check-and-report-scams/investor-alert-list)
     or on the [International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) investor alerts portal(link is external)](https://www.iosco.org/v2/investor_protection/?subsection=investor_alerts_portal)
    
*   that the person you are dealing with works for the organisation they say they do, **using contact details you find yourself**
*   the person offering you financial products or advice has an [Australian financial services (AFS) license(link is external)](https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/ProfessionalRegisters.jspx?_adf.ctrl-state=j7cf6dscz_12)
    
*   the address and contact details for the company are correct on publicly listed directories
*   the company's share listing on the stock exchange. If the offer to buy the shares is well below the market value shown – it’s probably a scam. If you are told the shares are being released pre-initial public offering (IPO), be even more cautious
*   when the domain name was [registered(link is external)](https://lookup.icann.org/)
    . A new website for an existing company is a warning sign. Find domain registration information using the [ICANN registration data lookup tool(link is external)](https://lookup.icann.org/en)
    .

Common investment scams


---------------------------

Open all Close all

[### Crypto scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-1)

Scammers use crypto-asset (virtual currency) investments, like Bitcoin or Ether, because they are hard to track.

Crypto is a very high risk and volatile investment. The value can go up or down quickly and there are no guaranteed returns.

If you lose your money to a crypto scam, it’s unlikely you will ever get your money back.

Find out more about crypto scams on the [ASIC’s MoneySmart website(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/investment-warnings/crypto-scams)
.

[### Fake celebrity endorsement scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-2)

Scammers use the image, name and characteristics of famous people without their permission, to get you to 'invest'. 

These can be very realistic, as scammers use artificial intelligence (AI) to create 'deepfakes' of the person. These images and voices can be very hard to recognise as fake. 

The celebrities’ images are often used in:

*   ads on social media or YouTube
*   fake news stories that appear to be from a well-known news company.

These ads or stories usually link to scam investment or trading websites that often use cryptocurrency.

[### Online dating scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-3)

The scammer uses a fake dating profile on social media, a dating website or app.

The scammer then moves the chat to a different, ‘more private’ chat site such as WhatsApp, Google Hangouts or WeChat.

Scammers say things to gain your trust before they tell you about an investment opportunity. Often, they say they have made a lot of money very quickly. They urge you to invest a small amount and you may see a quick return. The scammer then encourages you to invest larger amounts.

If you stop investing or want to withdraw your money, the scammer will stop contacting you. The investment platform will no longer be available, or you may be told the investment failed.

[### Ponzi schemes](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-4)

Ponzi schemes are investment scams that use money collected from new investors to pay old investors. There is no real investment. Find out more about Ponzi schemes on the [ASIC’s MoneySmart website(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/investment-warnings/ponzi-schemes)
.

[### Imposter bond scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-5)

The scammer pretends to be from a financial service company or a bank offering low risk investment products such as government bonds and fixed term loans. They demonstrate specialised financial knowledge, provide convincing documents, websites, and information, which are all fake.

Find out more about imposter bond investment scams on [ASIC’s MoneySmart website(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/financial-scams/imposter-bond-investment-scams)
.

[### Fake initial public offering scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-6)

An initial public offering (IPO) involves a company raising capital by offering shares to the public for the first time. Scammers impersonate Australian companies, including banks, to promote offers that coincide with legitimate company listings. They don’t have any association with the companies.

[### Superannuation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-7)

Superannuation scams offer early access to your super fund, often through a self-managed super fund or for a fee. The scammer may pose as a financial adviser.

Find more information on superannuation scams [here(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/how-super-works/superannuation-scams)
.

[Read more about withdrawing and using your super(link is external)](https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super/Withdrawing-and-using-your-super/)
.

[### Gambling and sports betting scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#collapse-accordion-8815-8)

These scams are a form of gambling made to look like real investments. Most do not work as promised and buyers cannot get their money back. There are different versions of this scam.

#### Computer prediction software

The scammer sells you a software program to predict sporting results promising high returns.

The information used to make the predictions can be found in the betting pages of your local newspaper at very little cost.

#### Betting syndicates

The scammer asks you to become a member of a betting syndicate for a joining fee (often over $15 000). You are required to make ongoing deposits to maintain the balance of the account.

The scammer tells you that they will use funds in the account to place bets on behalf of the syndicate. You, and other syndicate members' are promised a percentage of the profits, but the scammer simply steals your money.

#### Sports investment

These scams are promoted as business opportunities or investments at trade fairs, shows or via the internet. 

The scammer uses technical or financial terms such as 'sports arbitrage',' sports betting', 'sports wagering', 'sports tipping' or 'sports trading' to make these scams look like legitimate investments.

More information
----------------

Visit the [Moneysmart website(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/financial-scams/investment-scams)
 for more information on investment scams.

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Is this page useful?
--------------------

 Yes  No

Thanks for your feedback."
44,"[Skip to content](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams#main-content-skip)
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Jobs and employment scams
=========================

Stop and check any job that requires you to pay money to make money. It could be a scam. 

Scammers offer jobs that pay well with low effort. But it’s only the scammer that will make money in the end. Often the job doesn’t exist at all.

Scammers pretend to be hiring on behalf of high-profile companies and online shopping platforms. They also impersonate well-known recruitment agencies. Their goal is to steal your money and identity details.

They often ask for payment so you can start the role and get the income they’ve promised.

Don’t enter any arrangement that asks for up-front payment via bank transfer, PayID or cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin or USDT. It’s rare to get money back that is sent this way.

On this page
------------

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

*   A recruiter contacts you unexpectedly through text message or encrypted message platforms like WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram.
*   You are told you can earn a high income while working from home and with little effort.
*   The hiring process is quick. There’s no interview or discussion about your qualifications, experience, and references.
*   You are told to top up an account with your own money or cryptocurrency to complete tasks.
*   The job involves transferring money, making purchases, or receiving packages on behalf of someone else.
*   You are required to pay a 'recruitment fee’ or pay for training materials before you begin the job and make any money.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

*   Don’t trust a job ad is real just because it appears on a trusted platform or website – scammers post fake ads too. If you come across a scam, report it in the app where you found it, and to Scamwatch.
*   Never send money or give your personal information, credit card, online bank or cryptocurrency account details to anyone you have only met online, through email or over the phone.
*   Scammers may deceive you by giving you a small payment for completing a job or task. Never send your own money, you won’t get it back.
*   Know who you are dealing with. Contact recruitment agency representatives using phone numbers you have sourced yourself online.

### More safeguards

*   Don’t be pressured to act quickly. A legitimate offer won’t require you to make a fast decision. If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
*   Don’t take payment or rewards to recruit other people.
*   Be careful about including personal information such as your physical address or date of birth in your resume.
*   Never send your passport or identity documents to an employer or recruitment firm, unless you are certain they are genuine.

Common job scams


--------------------

Open all Close all

[### Task-based job scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams#collapse-accordion-8655-1)

Scammers post fake job ads on social media or impersonate legitimate job sites and recruiters. They often send unsolicited text or WhatsApp messages about fake job opportunities.

These fake jobs usually promise good money for completing easy tasks in just a few hours each day. The scammer will make the job sound attractive by saying that you:

*   can work flexible hours from home
*   don’t need experience or qualifications.

The scammer, posing as your supervisor or mentor, will usually explain the job to you on a messaging app like WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal. They will help you set up a cryptocurrency wallet and create an account on the scam website. You may be asked for personal details such as a Medicare card, driver’s licence, or passport as part of the application process.

You will be given a set of simple repetitive tasks to complete, such as buying or rating products and services or brands. After completing the first round of tasks, you might be paid a small amount of cryptocurrency to convince you that the job is real.

Before long, the scammer will say you need to recharge or top up your cryptocurrency account in order to get your earnings or commission. They might also offer you special tasks with a higher commission. These additional tasks require you to pay more of your own money.

Scammers will tell you that you’ll get this money back once the tasks are complete and the scam website will likely show you that your earnings are increasing. The scammer may add you to a group chat on a platform like WhatsApp where other people who claim to be employees talk about how much they’re making and post screenshots of their earnings. However, the group chat will be filled with scammers and bots.

You will never be able to withdraw your earnings or the money that you’ve paid.

[### Money mule scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams#collapse-accordion-8655-2)

Money mule scams are when criminals use bank accounts to transfer and launder money that is either stolen or used to fund serious crime. They often begin with a job offer using social media, instant messaging platforms, online pop-up ads, and email.

These jobs often have titles like ‘administrator’, ‘assistant’, ‘finance agent’, ‘remote cashier’, or ‘bookkeeper’. Scammers use these job titles to make victims believe that the work they are doing is genuine, but anyone who gets involved is transferring stolen money or funding crimes like drug production, human trafficking and terrorism.

The main part of money mule scams is that victims receive money into a personal bank account and then transfer it into other bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallets or gift cards. Sometimes the victim receives a commission when transferring the money as payment for their services.

Never allow anyone to use your bank account or to move money through your account. Acting as a money mule is a serious crime, even if you don’t know or understand how the money is being used.

[### Pyramid schemes](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams#collapse-accordion-8655-3)

Pyramid schemes are illegal and very risky ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes that can end up costing you a lot of money.

You may hear about a pyramid scheme from friends, family or neighbours. Usually, pyramid schemes recruit members at seminars, home meetings, over the phone, by email, post or social media.

In a typical pyramid scheme, you pay big upfront dollars to join. The scheme then relies on you convincing other people to join and to part with their money as well.

For everyone in the scheme to make a profit, there needs to be an endless supply of new members. In reality, the number of people willing to join the scheme, and the amount of money coming into the scheme, dries up very quickly.

Some pyramid scheme promoters disguise their true purpose by introducing products that are overpriced, of poor quality, difficult to sell or of low value. Making money out of recruitment is still their main aim.

The promoters at the top of the pyramid make their money by having people join the scheme. They pocket the fees and other payments made by those who join under them. When the scheme collapses, relationships, friendships and even marriages can be damaged over money lost in the scam.

It’s against the law to promote or take part in, a pyramid scheme.

Think you’ve been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

[Find out more about what to do if you've been scammed](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)

Is this page useful?
--------------------

 Yes  No

Thanks for your feedback."
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Online dating and romance scams
===============================

Scammers use romance, dating or friendship to get your trust and your money.

Never trust that someone you only know online is who they say they are. Scammers work hard to trick you into thinking the relationship is real, then manipulate you to get your money. They can spend years building your trust.

Scammers use social media, dating or gaming apps and websites to find people looking for love and friendship. They create fake profiles, sometimes of famous people. They might also call or message a lot to make you feel special. This is sometimes called 'love bombing'.

Once you trust them, they might tell you about an urgent problem they need your money for. They might ask you to set up accounts or transfer money they give you. Or they might convince you to use cryptocurrency and invest in a fake scheme they say is real. Either way, the scammer steals your money and disappears, and you don't get it back.

On this page
------------

Signs it might be a scam 
-------------------------

*   The relationship moves fast and they soon say they have strong feelings for you. They 'lovebomb' you, messaging or calling a lot and make you feel very special.
*   The scammer quickly tries to move your chat from a social media platform or online dating to a free messaging platform like GoogleHangouts, WeChat, Line or WhatsApp.
*   Once there's an emotional connection, the scammer encourages you to make money through different investments, often cryptocurrency. They may offer to spend time 'showing you' how to make 'easy money'. 
*   They may tell you they have an emergency and urgently need your money, or ask you to set up accounts or transfer money they give you.
*   They want you to only trust them and keep things secret. They may try to cut you off from family and friends.
*   There always seems to be some reason they can’t meet in person or video chat. Often they say they're overseas, somewhere remote or their technology isn’t working.

### Other 'red flags' or signs to look for

*   Their online profile doesn’t match what they tell you about themselves.
*   They ask you for personal photos, videos or information that could be used against you in the future.
*   The scammer threatens you or gets angry if you ask questions or don’t do what they ask. They may say they'll end the relationship.

Protect yourself
----------------

Lots of people look for friends and even find love online.

Just remember that scams are very common.

Keep yourself safe by staying updated on scams, and how to spot people who want your money or identity, not your love.

### Never send money to someone you haven't met

*   If they ask you for money, they're probably a scammer. Stop contact straight away and [get support](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)
    .
*   Never send money, card or bank details, personal information or identity documents to someone you only know online, no matter how long you’ve been messaging.
*   Never agree to transfer money for someone else. They may be involving you in a crime called money laundering, and you could be charged with a criminal offence.

### **Check who's really there**

*   Take things slowly when you meet new people online. Ask lots of questions and watch for things that don’t add up.
*   Search for the scammer’s name along with the word ‘scam’ in a search, and look for websites about romance scams in the results.
*   If you have a picture of them, [do a reverse image search(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/catfishing#how-to-use-image-search-to-catch-a-catfish)
     to find out if the same picture is online in different places, with different names or personal details. 
*   [Find out more about different types of investment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams)
     so you can spot red flags, or signs that something is a scam.

### Be careful of what you share (and what you don't)

*   Never send nudes or sexually intimate photos or videos to people you don’t know. Scammers can use them to threaten and blackmail you. 
*   Don’t keep an online relationship secret. Tell people you trust about it. It can be easier for someone else to spot things that don't seem right.
*   Think carefully about sharing information about your hobbies, job or family online. Scammers can use this to hurt you, or steal your identity.
*   Find out how to [stay safe on different social media platforms(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/how-to/social-media-online-chat)
    .
*   Find out what to do if someone is [using your personal information to scam others(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/catfishing#i-think-someone-is-pretending-to-be-me-online-%E2%80%93-what-should-i-do)
    .

###  How to spot a fake profile

They usually have:

*   photos that look too professional
*   photos that are blurry or unclear
*   very little personal information
*   few or no connections to social media accounts
*   few comments, likes or shares on their social media from other people.

If you’ve been affected


---------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/online-dating-and-romance-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam and warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

[Find out more about what to do if you've been scammed](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)

Real life stories


---------------------

![Older lady wiping her tears with a tissue](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/type-of-scam-images/life-stories-01-georgina-facebook-thumb.jpg?itok=uDOEtAxS)

### [Dating and romance scam: Georgina's Facebook fiancé leaves her flat broke](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/stay-protected/real-life-stories/dating-and-romance-scam-georginas-facebook-fianc%C3%A9-leaves-her-flat-broke)

If you’ve only ever met online, you need to take extra precautions to protect yourself. Don’t let scammers take advantage of your better nature and steal your money.  

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Thanks for your feedback."
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Phone scams
===========

1 in 3 reported scams happen by phone. Scammers call, claiming to be from well-known organisations. This includes government organisations, law enforcement, investment and law firms, banks, telecommunication providers.

They make it sound urgent to get to you act quickly. They may try to convince you to give them your personal or bank account details, or remote access to your computer. The caller may already have some details about you, such as your name or address.

On this page
------------

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

Stop and think. It's probably a scam call if the caller:

*   asks for personal or financial information:
    *   payment, or for you to move money between accounts
    *   your password, pin, one-time code, or some other security information
    *   credit card or banking details to process a refund or other ‘overpayment’
*   wants you to install software or access a secure account on your mobile phone or computer
*   threatens you with immediate arrest, deportation, or blackmail etc.
*   suggests you or your accounts have been hacked or involved in fraud
*   tells you about a way to make quick, easy money with little risk or effort.

Steps you can take to avoid phone scams
---------------------------------------

These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams.

### Screen unknown numbers

*   Let calls from unknown phone numbers go to voicemail.
*   If you are not sure if a caller is who they say they are, it’s ok to hang up.

You can still receive scam calls even if you have a private number or are on the [Do Not Call register(link is external)](https://www.donotcall.gov.au/)
.

### Check the call is real

*   Never use contact details given by a caller or written in an email or SMS.
*   Call the organisation or person back on a phone number you have found yourself (on their website).
*   Use the organisation’s secure, authenticated portal or app (never through a link).

### Be scam aware

*   Immediately hang up on anyone who tries to threaten or intimidate you.
*   Never give anyone remote access to your computer.
*   If an offer appears too good to be true, it probably is. Research any investment opportunity fully before investing money. Visit [MoneySmart(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/)
     for advice.

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/phone-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Common Phone scam types


---------------------------

![Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons%2520_Impersonation%5B1%5D.png?itok=nbJ7FrsR)

### [Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams)

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information.

![Threats and extortion scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Threats_Extortion%5B1%5D.png?itok=xIOAe3dW)

### [Threats and extortion scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-and-extortion-scams)

Scammers will use any means possible to steal your identity or your money – including threatening your life or 'hijacking' your computer.

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Product and service scams
=========================

Scammers pose as buyers or sellers to steal your money. Always check that you are paying the correct people or businesses when buying or selling products and services online.

Scammers set up fake websites or profiles on actual retailer sites. They then offer products or services at prices that are too good to be true. They also post fake ads and fake reviews. They may use stolen logos, a .com.au domain name and stolen Australian Business Number (ABN). These scams are hard to spot.

Scammers also pose as businesses that you know and trust. Then they send you fake bills or by changing the payee details on an invoice you are expecting.

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

*   A **seller** offers products at an unbelievably low price. They claim they have amazing benefits or features that sound too good to be true.
*   An online **seller** doesn’t have any terms and conditions, ABN or privacy policy on their website.
*   A **buyer** willing to buy an expensive product you are selling without viewing it in person.
*   A **buyer** sending a cheque or payment that is more than the agreed price. Then they ask you to refund the overpaid amount.
*   Getting an invoice for a product or service you haven’t bought.
*   You are told that you must pay by money order, pre-loaded card or pay to several different PayIds or accounts.
*   The payment to the person or business you think you are paying, doesn’t match the identity of the account holder.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

*   Stop and check you are buying from a real store and not a fake website. Look for the ABN and check it on ABN look up: [ABN Lookup (business.gov.au)(link is external)](https://abr.business.gov.au/)
    :
*   Be wary of social media stores that are new and selling products at very low prices.
*   Check that a website you want to buy from has information about privacy, terms and conditions of use, dispute resolution and contact details, plus a secure payment service like PayPal or credit card.

### Check the details

*   Search for the official site of the organisation. Don’t assume that the first search result that comes up in an internet search is the real website.
*   Double check invoices are from suppliers you trust and that the bank details are correct.
*   When using PayID or bank transfer make sure the name matches the person you think you’re paying. Some banks will confirm the payee details match when doing a bank transfer.  

### **How to check a website**

*   Type the website and the word scam or review into a search engine and review results carefully
*   Check the websites URL for red flags such as:
    *   Multiple dashes or symbols in the domain name
    *   Domain that imitates a business, such as Ap9le
    *   Domains for Australian businesses that don’t end in .com or .com.au
*   Check the contact page. No contact info is a sign it's likely a scam
*   Check contact information like an address on an online map
*   Use the [ICANN Lookup search(link is external)](https://lookup.icann.org/en)
     to see when the website was registered.
    *   Recent registration may indicate it is untrustworthy
*   If the website is a .com.au, use the [Australian Domain Authority’s website(link is external)](https://whois.auda.org.au/)
     to see which company or trademark registered it.
    *   Compare the company that actually registered the website with information that appears on the website

Think you’ve been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

[Find out more about what to do if you've been scammed](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)

Common products and services scams


--------------------------------------

Open all Close all

[### Money recovery scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-1)

Scammers contact victims of previous scams, pretending they can help recover stolen money. They might use email, messages, phone calls, or social media advertisements online. They will pretend to be trustworthy parties like government agencies, lawyers or charities. They might also pretend to be other victims and tell you about a service which helped them get their money back. 

Scammers tell you that they can get your money for a fee, a percentage of the stolen funds, or a tax payment. They might tell you they can track down stolen cryptocurrency. They ask you for your personal information. They might ask to access your devices remotely.

Never accept offers from anyone who says they can get your money back. Never give strangers your personal details or remote access to your computer, even if they say they are from a legitimate organisation. Work with your financial institution to try and recover your money, and report to the police any offers by third parties to recover your stolen money. 

[### Online shopping scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-2)

Scammers set up stores that look real, or profiles to sell popular or luxury items. Common products scammers try to deceive you into paying for include, toys, BBQs, gym equipment, clothing, shoes, and phones.

They will offer products on their own fake websites, or on a cloned or copy website of a popular store. They also sell through their social media profile or store, or through a profile on a legitimate selling platform like Amazon.

[### Marketplace and classified scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-3)

Scammers set up accounts as sellers on popular online marketplaces such as Facebook; Gumtree; or eBay. Often the buyers and sellers may be individuals rather than businesses.

Scammers will also sell expensive products like cars, boats, or caravans. Always inspect the product before making a payment.

Protect yourself by using secure payment methods recommended by the marketplace or platform. Keep communications within the platform. Where it’s available, check the person you are paying (payee) matches the account or PayID you are paying. If not, don’t pay. Many payments are now made instantly and it’s unlikely you will get your money back.

[### False billing and payment redirection scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-4)

Scammers will contact you out of the blue and ask you to pay bills for services or products you haven’t ordered. If you didn’t order, don’t pay.

Scammers pretend to be from a business you’ve used and send you an invoice with new payee information. The aim is to get you to redirect a legitimate payment to a scammer. You think you are paying for the products or services you ordered but you will be sending money to a scammer. Check emails from businesses carefully. Sometimes they will add one extra letter or number to the email address to deceive you into thinking you are dealing with the real business.

Stop and check any changes to payee information on invoices. Contact the business you normally deal with by phone using a number you have sourced independently.

[False billing: John updated supplier details and it ended up costing thousands | Scamwatch](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/real-life-stories/false-billing-john-updated-supplier-details-and-it-ended-up-costing-thousands)

[### Rental scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-5)

Scammers pose as landlords for rental and holiday properties. They will post ads for rental properties that may not exist or that do exist, but they do not own. Scammers will come up with excuses about why you can’t inspect the property and will ask you to pay a bond or rent in advance. They may also ask you to send identity information like your licence or passport.

Never pay money for a rental property you are not able to inspect. Make sure you are dealing with an estate agent licensed to operate in your State. Do an online search to make sure the property exists and is a rental property.

[### Pet scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-6)

Scammers set up fake websites to deceive you to pay money for popular breeds, cute puppies, or other pets. They set up fake profiles on social media and online marketplaces to convince you to buy a pet that doesn’t exist.

If you are buying a pet online, always stop and check:

*   View the pet in person by visiting the breeder or seller
*   Request to see the pet in a video call with the breeder
*   Verify if the breeder is legitimate and accredited
*   Compare pricing - if it’s very cheap, it’s likely a scam

[### Health and medical products](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-7)

Scammers offer health and medical products and services to deceive you to pay money for products that don’t work and won’t cure you.  Some of these products may be dangerous. If you are worried about your health always see a doctor. Never take medical advice from people on social media or online forums.

If you need online delivery for a prescription, ask your healthcare professional if they can recommend an online pharmacy. Never access an online pharmacy site through a link in an unsolicited email - delete the email.

Real pharmacies that trade online will list their full contact details. They will need a doctor’s prescription before they send out any medicine.

If you want to use an overseas-based online pharmacy, you should check with the [Therapeutic Goods Administration(link is external)](https://www.tga.gov.au/)
 that the product does not contain any ingredients that are prohibited in Australia. 

[### Psychic](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams#collapse-accordion-8644-8)

Psychic and clairvoyant scammers approach you by post, email, telephone or even face-to-face. They predict a positive upcoming event or claim that you are in some sort of trouble and offer a solution.

Never send money, credit card or other personal details to these scammers.

If you want to use the services of a psychic or clairvoyant, make sure you know the total cost and exactly what you will receive. Ask if there are any conditions and ongoing or hidden costs.

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--------------------

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Social media scams
==================

Be suspicious of anyone who unexpectedly contacts you on social media. Scammers use these platforms to gain your trust and steal your money.

Scammers set up fake profiles on social media,  messaging platforms and apps. They may pretend to be a friend, family member or interested in a relationship. They impersonate the government, real businesses, employers and investment or online trading platforms.

They may:

*   impersonate celebrities or public figures to recommend and promote products or services (these include AI-generated 'deepfakes' and fake news)
*   use the logo of real organisation they are pretending to be
*   use other people's photos and identities to create fake profiles to make friends with you and gain your trust.

Scammers learn a lot about you from what you share on social media, and deceive you into sharing personal information. They use this to guess your passwords or target you with other scams.

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

Stop and think. It could be a scam if the post or message:

*   shows or suggest that a celebrity or public figure recommends or promotes a product or service
*   comes from someone you've only met online or by phone, urgently asking for your money to help pay for a personal emergency
*   threatens to share a private image of you unless you pay them money.

Social media scams use common tactics like:

*   offering a way to make quick, easy money with little risk or effort
*   inviting you to enter a competition or limited time offer
*   offering to buy something you're selling for a high price without seeing it first
*   offering items for much lower prices than usual or compared to other sites
*   saying they live overseas and can’t meet you in person.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams.

### Make sure the person is who they say they are

*   Research profiles to check how long an account has been active, how many friends or followers they have and how much activity they have had online including posts and photos. Lack of history, detail and followers can be a sign of a fake profile.
*   Be wary if a job is offered to you without an interview, or discussion about your experience, suitability, and references. Research the recruiter and the business or individual offering the position. Contact the recruitment agency via phone numbers sourced from an independent internet search.
*   If an offer appears too good to be true, it probably is. Research any investment opportunity fully before investing money. Visit [MoneySmart(link is external)](https://moneysmart.gov.au/)
     for advice.

### Be careful about what information you share on social media

*   **Never** send money to a person you have only met online
*   Never send personal pictures of yourself to someone you have only met online

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/social-media-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Common Social media scam types


----------------------------------

![Investment scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Investement%5B1%5D.png?itok=vWonrx26)

### [Investment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams)

If you're looking to make money through investing, watch out – scammers have created all sorts of fake opportunities to get you excited and take away your cash.  

![Romance scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Romance%2520Scams%5B1%5D.png?itok=PN-bAJ-A)

### [Online dating and romance scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/online-dating-and-romance-scams)

Scammers use dating or friendship to get your money. They work hard to make you think the relationship is real, then manipulate you to give them money. Romance scams leave you broke and broken-hearted.

![Product and service scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_%2520Product_Service%5B1%5D.png?itok=4-gVxeO2)

### [Product and service scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams)

Scammers prey on consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services. Not every transaction is legitimate.

Is this page useful?
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Thanks for your feedback."
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Text or SMS scams
=================

Scam messages look like they are from the government, businesses you deal with or even your own family or friends to try to catch you out.

They sound urgent to get you to act quickly. They often have a link which will take you to a scam website. Scammers can steal any personal information entered on these scam websites and use it to take your money or commit fraud in your name.

To make these message look real, scammers spoof (copy) the phone number and sender ID of businesses or people you know. Scam messages can even appear in the same message chain as real messages from the organisation, making them even harder to spot.

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

Stop and think. There's a good chance it's a scam if the message asks you to:

*   take immediate action 
*   make a payment or transfer money
*   click on a link or call a number provided in the message
*   log on to an online account with your username and password or to provide other personal information

To rush you into acting, the text might also claim something urgent like:

*   you or your accounts have been hacked or involved in fraud
*   there's problem with your payment or your package delivery 
*   threatening to stop a service or charge a fine if you don't act now.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

### Never to click on links in messages

Search for the website yourself or use the organisations secure, authenticated app or portal to see if it is real.

### Always do an independent check that the person is who they say they are

*   Don’t respond to a text message using the phone number provided.
*   Call the organisation or person back on a phone number you have found yourself (on their website or in the phone book) to check if the message was real.
*   Be suspicious of any job offer by text, especially without an interview or discussion.  Research the person offering the position and only contact them using a phone number you've found yourself.
    
*   If someone you know messages you saying they have a new number:
    *   try to call them on the existing number you have for them if someone says they have a new number
    *   message them on the new number with a question only they would know the answer to check they are who they say they are.

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/text-or-sms-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Common Text or SMS scam types


---------------------------------

![Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons%2520_Impersonation%5B1%5D.png?itok=nbJ7FrsR)

### [Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams)

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information.

![Jobs and employment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Jobs_and_employment%5B1%5D.png?itok=kY7DEDjN)

### [Jobs and employment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams)

Jobs and employment scams deceive you into handing over your money by offering you a ‘guaranteed’ way to make fast money or a high-paying job for little effort.  

Is this page useful?
--------------------

 Yes  No

Thanks for your feedback."
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Threats and extortion scams
===========================

Scammers threaten you so you will pay them money. Speak up and report before handing over money to someone who threatens you.

Scammers pretend to be from an organisation and claim you need to pay money. They may threaten you with arrest, deportation, or even physical harm, if you don’t agree to pay them immediately.

They can also blackmail you by threatening to share naked pictures or videos you have sent them unless you send them money.

Don’t be pressured by a threat. Stop and check whether it’s true.

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

*   You receive a call, message or email unexpectedly from someone claiming to be from a government department, debt collection agency or trusted company.
*   They will claim that you owe money and threaten you with legal action or arrest.
*   The caller will tell you that to fix the matter you will need to pay a fee or fine.
*   The caller may ask for your personal information, such as your passport details, date of birth or bank information.
*   The caller may claim the police will come to your door and arrest you if you do not pay the fee or fine straight away.
*   You are asked to transfer money to an account to ‘keep it safe’ or for ‘further investigation’.

Steps you can take to protect yourself
--------------------------------------

*   Don’t be pressured by a threatening caller asking for money. Hang up and don’t respond.
*   Don’t pay anyone by unusual methods such as by gift or store cards, iTunes vouchers, wire transfers or Bitcoins.
*   Don’t use any contact details provided by the caller. Verify their identity by calling the relevant organisation directly. Find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.
*   Do not respond to texts or emails. If you do, the scammers will escalate their intimidation and attempts to get your money.

### More safeguards

*   Never send money or give credit card details, online account details or identity information like your driver licence or passport to anyone you don’t know or trust. Never share them by email or over the phone.
*   If you are concerned for your safety, contact the police.
*   If the scam is sent by email, don’t open any attachments, click on links, or download files. They can infect your computer with malware.

Think you’ve been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-and-extortion-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

[Find out more about what to do if you've been scammed](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)

Common threat and extortion scams


-------------------------------------

Open all Close all

[### Sextortion](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-and-extortion-scams#collapse-accordion-8785-1)

A scammer blackmails you by threatening to share an intimate image of you to get your money. This is a serious crime, and you should report it to the police immediately.

Scammers target people through dating sites, social media, and gaming apps. They message you out of the blue claiming they have your private images. Or they pretend to be looking for love, then deceive you into sending them nude images or videos of yourself or record you during a live video chat with them.

Once the scammer has an intimate image or video of you, they threaten to share it with your family, friends, or people you know unless you give them money.

The scammer will tell you they will delete the image or video if you pay but will keep asking you to pay more money.

Find out more information about sextortion at the [esafety Commissioner.(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/image-based-abuse/deal-with-sextortion#:~:text=Sexual%20extortion%20or%20'sextortion'%20is,not%20alone%20%E2%80%93%20there's%20help%20available.)

#### Steps you can take to avoid sextortion

*   Be careful about what you share about yourself online.
*   Never share naked pictures or videos of yourself with someone you’ve never met in person.
*   Cut off contact at once if you suspect you are in contact with a scammer.
*   Do not pay the blackmailer or give them more money or intimate images.
*   Information on how to stay safe on different social media platforms can be found [here(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide)
    .

#### Get support

**If you are under 18**, the best way to get help with sextortion is to report it to the [Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation(link is external)](https://www.accce.gov.au/)
 (ACCCE). 

Speak to trusted friends or family about the blackmail or contact a confidential [counselling and support service(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/counselling-support-services)
.

#### Real life story 

[Sextortion: Michael’s story | eSafety Commissioner(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/image-based-abuse/stories/michael)

[### Chinese extortion](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-and-extortion-scams#collapse-accordion-8785-2)

### Chinese extortion

Scamwatch is warning the Chinese community in Australia about 2 scams that involve extortion and threats of arrest. This content is also available in [simplified Chinese (简体中文)](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-extortion/threats-to-life-arrest-or-other/threat-kidnap-scams-targeting-chinese-community/chinese-simplified-%E9%92%88%E5%AF%B9%E5%8D%8E%E4%BA%BA%E7%A4%BE%E5%8C%BA%E7%9A%84%E5%A8%81%E8%83%81%E5%92%8C%E7%BB%91%E6%9E%B6%E9%AA%97%E5%B1%80)
 and [traditional Chinese (繁體中文)](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-extortion/threats-to-life-arrest-or-other/threat-kidnap-scams-targeting-chinese-community/chinese-traditional-%E9%87%9D%E5%B0%8D%E8%8F%AF%E4%BA%BA%E7%A4%BE%E5%8D%80%E7%9A%84%E5%A8%81%E8%84%85%E5%92%8C%E7%B6%81%E6%9E%B6%E9%A8%99%E5%B1%80)
.

A scammer speaking Mandarin will call directly or leave an ‘urgent’ voice message to call back. When you call back, the scammer may pretend to be from a Chinese authority such as the police, a government or immigration official, or a parcel delivery service.

They may claim:

*   you are in serious trouble as they have a package addressed to you with illegal material such as fake passports or credit cards
*   your identity has been stolen or hacked and used for illegal activity
*   the Australian Government will arrest or deport you due to a problem with your visa.

They will threaten you’ll be sent back to China to face criminal charges unless money is sent to them. They will claim this money is needed to prove your innocence while they investigate the supposed crime, but there is no crime.

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Thanks for your feedback."
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Types of scams
==============

Ways scammers reach you


---------------------------

![Text or SMS scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_SMS%5B1%5D.png?itok=53S9IGpj)

### [Text or SMS scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/text-or-sms-scams)

Scam messages look like they are from the government, businesses you deal with or even your own family or friends to try to catch you out.

![Phone scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Phone%5B1%5D.png?itok=M5KGVi0G)

### [Phone scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/phone-scams)

Scam calls are more than annoying – they cost Australians $141 million in losses last year.

![Email scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Email%5B1%5D.png?itok=lt4rT8xO)

### [Email scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/email-scams)

Scam emails look like the real thing, but watch out for links and attachments designed to steal your money or information.

![Social media scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_%2520Social%2520Media%5B1%5D.png?itok=pA4DAc7D)

### [Social media scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/social-media-scams)

Be suspicious of anyone who unexpectedly contacts you on social media. Scammers use these platforms to gain your trust and steal your money.

![Website scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_%2520Website%5B1%5D.png?itok=ms5NqGCw)

### [Website scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/website-scams)

Scammers can pretend to be anyone online to deceive you into trusting them.

![In-person scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_In-person%5B1%5D.png?itok=2rfdW47J)

### [In-person scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/in-person-scams)

Some scams take place in person.

Types of scams


------------------

![Romance scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Romance%2520Scams%5B1%5D.png?itok=PN-bAJ-A)

### [Online dating and romance scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/online-dating-and-romance-scams)

Scammers use dating or friendship to get your money. They work hard to make you think the relationship is real, then manipulate you to give them money. Romance scams leave you broke and broken-hearted.

![Investment scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Investement%5B1%5D.png?itok=vWonrx26)

### [Investment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams)

If you're looking to make money through investing, watch out – scammers have created all sorts of fake opportunities to get you excited and take away your cash.  

![Product and service scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_%2520Product_Service%5B1%5D.png?itok=4-gVxeO2)

### [Product and service scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams)

Scammers prey on consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services. Not every transaction is legitimate.

![Threats and extortion scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Threats_Extortion%5B1%5D.png?itok=xIOAe3dW)

### [Threats and extortion scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/threats-and-extortion-scams)

Scammers will use any means possible to steal your identity or your money – including threatening your life or 'hijacking' your computer.

![Jobs and employment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Jobs_and_employment%5B1%5D.png?itok=kY7DEDjN)

### [Jobs and employment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams)

Jobs and employment scams deceive you into handing over your money by offering you a ‘guaranteed’ way to make fast money or a high-paying job for little effort.  

![Unexpected money](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Unexpected_money%5B1%5D.png?itok=5KdBmcd7)

### [Unexpected money](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money)

Don't be lured by a surprise win. These scams try to deceive you into giving money upfront or your personal information in order to receive a prize from a lottery or competition that you never entered.

![Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons%2520_Impersonation%5B1%5D.png?itok=nbJ7FrsR)

### [Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams)

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information.

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Thanks for your feedback."
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Unexpected money
================

Don’t lose your money trying to access entitlements, rebates or winnings. Offers of free money will cost you a lot.  

Scammers try to convince you that you are owed or entitled to, money or winnings that you did not expect to receive.  

The scammer asks you to pay a fee or to give your financial or identity details so you can get the money or winnings. There is no free money, and you will lose more money trying to get it.

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

*   Unexpected emails, letters, texts, or any contact that say you are entitled to money, compensation, or an inheritance.
*   You are asked to pay money up-front, like taxes or fees to get money or prizes; but you haven’t entered a competition.
*   A letter or email looks official and asks you for an upfront ‘administration fee’ or tax to receive a refund or rebate.
*   A court order says you are a beneficiary and asks for your identity information or money to make a claim.

**Steps you can take to protect yourself**
------------------------------------------

*   Always stop and check before you act. Offers of free money are too good to be true and are likely scams.
*   Don’t pay a fee to collect winnings or a prize. Legitimate lotteries don’t ask you to do this.
*   Never share your bank or credit card details or your identity documents to anyone you don’t know or trust. Government departments or trusted companies will never ask you to pay money upfront to claim a grant or rebate.
*   Check with your bank, a legal service or a trusted friend or family member, to see if an offer is legitimate.
*   Do an internet search using the names or contact details to check for any references to a scam.
*   If a friend or family member sends you a message about a prize on social media, check with them outside of social media that they sent it.

Think you’ve been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

[Find out more about what to do if you've been scammed](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/what-to-do-if-youve-been-scammed)

Common unexpected money scams


---------------------------------

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[### Inheritance scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#collapse-accordion-8680-1)

The scammer pretends to be a lawyer, banker, or foreign official. They will say you have a large inheritance from a distant relative or wealthy person.  They will provide fake bank statements, birth certificates and other documents to make it look real.

You will be asked to pay a series of fees, charges or taxes and send personal information and documents to get the money.

[### Rebate scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#collapse-accordion-8680-2)

Rebate scams say you are due a rebate from the government, a bank or trusted organisation. This could include money back for overpaid taxes, bank fees or some sort of compensation.

The contact may come by mail, telephone, email, text message or social media. To receive the money, you are asked to pay an upfront fee to cover 'administration fees' or taxes.

[### Scratchie scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#collapse-accordion-8680-3)

Scammers mail fake scratch-off cards that promise a prize, on the condition that the ‘winner’ pays a fee.

The card asks you to call the company to claim the prize. If you call, you will be asked to pay a fee to enter the competition, claim your prize or to become a customer.  They may also ask you to provide information about yourself including bank information.

[### Travel prize scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#collapse-accordion-8680-4)

Travel prize scams ask you to pay money to claim a ‘reward’ such as a free or discounted holiday in a competition you didn’t enter.

You will be asked to provide credit card and bank details, plus other information about yourself.

Scammers say they are from well-known businesses, such as airlines or hotel chains.

[### Money transfer scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#collapse-accordion-8680-5)

Money transfer scammers offer you a share in a large sum of money or a payment, if you help them transfer money out of their country.

The scammer claims that a fee needs to be paid before the money can be moved and they ask you to pay it.

Never agree to transfer money for someone else. It’s called money laundering and being involved is a criminal offence.

[### Lottery, competition and prize scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-money#collapse-accordion-8680-6)

You receive a letter, email, text message or message on social media, saying you have won a prize in a lottery or competition you did not enter.

Unexpected prize, competition and lottery scams work by asking you to pay a fee or a tax so you can claim your prize or winnings.

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Website scams
=============

Scammers can pretend to be anyone online to deceive you into trusting them.

Scammers create fake websites to look like well-known brands. They impersonate famous people and make it look like they recommend the product or service. They use fake reviews to make you trust them.

Advertising banners or pop-up windows that contain fake warnings or error messages can pressure you into acting. 

On this page
------------

Warning signs it might be a scam
--------------------------------

Stop and think. It's probably a scam if the website:

*   sells items at significantly lower prices than usual or compared to other sites
*   has something unusual about the payment method, like only offering a single payment option or asking for payment in gift cards or Bitcoin
*   only includes positive reviews or reviews that are light on detail
*   has an urgent warning or error message that asks you to click a link
*   advertises a way to make quick, easy money with little or no risk or effort

Steps you can take to avoid website scams
-----------------------------------------

These simple steps can help prevent loss of money or personal information to scams:

*   Do some research on the organisation or person you are dealing with before giving anyone your money or personal information
*   Don’t rely on reviews written on the website itself - search for independent reviews on other sites
*   If an offer appears too good to be true, it probably is. Research any investment opportunity fully before investing money. 
*   If a warning or error message pops up on your screen don’t click on it, instead go to the application it refers to directly to check if it is real.
*   If you have a secure, authenticated way to reach an organisation (an app or portal) use these rather than search engine results
*   Keep the device you use for online shopping up to date by enabling ‘automatic updates’ for your operating system and apps.
*   Find out how to protect yourself while shopping online on the [Australian Cyber Security Centre website(link is external)](https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/staying-secure-online/shopping-and-banking-online/online-shopping/while-you-are-shopping)
    . 
*   Find out how to have safer, more positive online experiences on the [eSafety website(link is external)](https://www.esafety.gov.au/)
    . 

Think you've been scammed?


------------------------------

1.  [### **Act fast to stop any further losses**\
    \
    **Contact your bank or card provider immediately** to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions.\
    \
    Change passwords on all your devices and online accounts like banking, email, government and shopping.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/website-scams#)
    
2.  [### **Get help to recover**\
    \
    IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage. Call them on 1800 595 160 or visit their website to find out more.\
    \
    (link is external)](https://www.idcare.org/)
    
3.  [### **Report the scam**\
    \
    Once you have secured your details, you can help us try to stop the scam or to warn others by reporting the scam to us.](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam)
    

Common Website scam types


-----------------------------

![Product and service scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_%2520Product_Service%5B1%5D.png?itok=4-gVxeO2)

### [Product and service scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/product-and-service-scams)

Scammers prey on consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services. Not every transaction is legitimate.

![Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons%2520_Impersonation%5B1%5D.png?itok=nbJ7FrsR)

### [Impersonation scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/impersonation-scams)

Scammers impersonate trusted businesses, friends or family, to steal your money or personal information.

![Investment scams icon](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/sites/www.scamwatch.gov.au/files/styles/large/public/2024-08/SWW_Icons_Investement%5B1%5D.png?itok=vWonrx26)

### [Investment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investment-scams)

If you're looking to make money through investing, watch out – scammers have created all sorts of fake opportunities to get you excited and take away your cash.  

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