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+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.
+"
+40,scamwatch.gov.au