OTHER SCAM TRENDS
Scamwatch now have statistics for 2025 which reveals a 5% increase in a total financial loss of $334.9 million to scammers.
While 200,675 people reported all types of scams (down 19.6%), 28,202 lost money with a 20% fall in median losses (from $500 in 2024 to $400 in 2025).
The highest losses were to investment ($172.2m), phishing ($31.1m) and romance ($28.7m) scams but more people (12,248) lost money to shopping scams than any other type.
Online scams (social media, websites, apps) caused double the financial harm than any other scam with $158.5m reported lost.
LEARN HOW TO STOP. CHECK. PROTECT
STOP. Always pause before sending money or personal information to anyone. Scammers will pressure you into acting quickly. DO NOT RUSH.
What to do:
- Say no, hang up or delete suspicious messages.
- Take time to think before responding to unexpected requests.
- Don’t let anyone pressure you into immediate action.
- Trust your instincts if something feels wrong.
CHECK. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you’re really dealing with before acting.
What to do:
- Contact the person or organisation directly using phone numbers or email addresses you find on their official website or app.
- Research investment opportunities or offers through official sources like ASIC.
- Get a second opinion from family, friends, or professionals.
PROTECT. Act quickly if something feels wrong. The sooner you act, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.
What to do:
- Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve lost money or shared financial details
- Contact IDCARE (www.idcare.orgor call 1800 595 160) if you want support to recover – they can help you create a plan to the limit damage of scams.
- Report to Scamwatch (www.scamwatch.gov.au) to help protect others.
- Report to police (www.cyber.gov.au).
- Change passwords and security details if you think they’ve been compromised.
- Monitor your bank statements and credit reports for unusual activity.
- Report the scam to the impersonated organisation and platform where the scam is happening.
Being scammed can feel overwhelming. Support is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
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