Learn how to spot and avoid scams
News and alerts
Consumers and small businesses need to be wary of unsolicited calls, emails or messages requesting they download a software patch or provide remote access to fix or protect their computer from the CrowdStrike/Microsoft outage.
Downloading unsolicited software can give scammers access to your computer, including your bank accounts.
Criminals are calling people and pretending to be from the National Anti-Scam Centre.
They tell you that your phone number is being used in a scam in China and offer to help you ‘clear your record’.
The National Anti-Scam Centre has released its third quarterly update and first fusion cell report.
With a focus on investment scams, the fusion cell targeted imposter bond and term deposit scams, and AI trading platform scams.
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STOP – Don’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, Services Australia, police, a bank, government or a fraud service.
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THINK – Ask yourself could the message or call be fake?
Never click a link in a message. Only contact businesses or government using contact information from their official website or through their secure apps. If you’re not sure say no, hang up or delete.
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PROTECT – Act quickly if something feels wrong.
Contact your bank if you notice some unusual activity or if a scammer gets your money or information. Seek help from IDCARE and report to ReportCyber and Scamwatch.
National Anti-Scam Centre
The government has funded the ACCC to set up a new centre to build on the work of Scamwatch. The National Anti-Scam Centre:
- helps people spot and avoid scams
- makes it easier to report scams
- improves information sharing to disrupt scammers
- works across government and with industry
- supports law enforcement