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Scam alerts — Australia
Australians lost A$2.74 B to scams in 2024 — investment fraud led at A$1.3 B. Below is the live GACS feed of Australia-targeted cases and the official Scamwatch / ASIC / ACMA channels for reporting and takedown.
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What this is
This page indexes scams reported by or targeting Australian residents. Entries are cross-referenced against the Scamwatch register, ASIC's Investor Alert List, and ACMA's anti-scam intelligence feed.
Red flags to watch for
- Caller claims to be from the ATO threatening arrest for unpaid tax — ATO never threatens arrest or demands gift-card payment
- 'MyGov suspended' SMS with a link — Services Australia never suspends accounts by text
- Investment 'opportunity' via WhatsApp / Telegram from someone claiming to be in Sydney / Melbourne — check the ASIC professional registers
- 'Australia Post / Auspost / Toll' missed-parcel SMS with a fee link — couriers don't collect fees by SMS
- 'NDIS provider' demanding payment or personal details to keep your plan active — NDIS never operates this way
Live cases from the GACS feed
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What to do if you've been targeted
- 1
Stop the transfer
Call your bank immediately — Australian banks can attempt recall for OSKO / NPP within minutes if you act fast.
- 2
Report to Scamwatch
scamwatch.gov.au accepts detailed reports including screenshots, wallets, URLs. Feeds intelligence to ACCC, AFP, and state police.
- 3
Notify ASIC for investment scams
asic.gov.au/report includes a dedicated path for unauthorised firms, clone firms, and pump-and-dump schemes.
- 4
Lock your MyGov / ATO
Sign in via myGov directly (not any link from the scammer), change passwords, enable PassKey, and link only known devices.
- 5
Activate Shield
Save the actor's handles, wallets, and domains to your free GACS Shield watchlist.
FAQs
Where do I report a scam in Australia?
Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au. Investment fraud: ASIC at asic.gov.au/report. SMS / call scams: ACMA at acma.gov.au. Identity theft: IDCARE 1800 595 160. ATO scams: 1800 008 540.
Will my bank refund me?
Under the Scams Prevention Framework rolling out 2025–2026, banks, telcos, and platforms share liability where they failed to prevent scams. Until full enforcement, refund depends on your bank's voluntary code — report immediately and quote ePayments Code section 11 where relevant.
How do I verify an Australian financial firm?
Search the ASIC Connect Professional Registers and the AFS Licensee list. Cross-reference the ABN at abr.business.gov.au. If you can't find the firm with an exact ABN match, treat it as unauthorised.
How do I report a scam to GACS?
Submit the wallet address, website, phone number, or social handle at gacs.app. Each report is cross-checked against CryptoScamDB, URLhaus, and on-chain analysis before publication. Activate your free GACS Shield to monitor follow-on activity tied to the same actor.
Is the GACS Shield really free?
Yes. Activating your free Shield gives you unlimited scans, saved history, weekly alerts, and a watchlist — no card, no trial. There is no paid scanner tier.
Related scam profiles & guides
Activate your free GACS Shield
Save scammer handles, wallets, and domains. Get alerted when the same actor surfaces in a new report. Unlimited scans, no card.
Get My Free Scam AlertsAuthoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
- US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud
Consumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
- UK Action Fraud
UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.
