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According to the national anti-scam service, Scamwatch, Australians lost a record $3.1 billion to scams in 2022, with an average loss of almost $20,000.

Scammers trick people into handing over money or personal information, which can be used to commit further crimes. They can use phones, text messages, emails or websites to reach their victims. Australians lose more money to investment scams than any other kind of scam, and they can be hard to spot — if a money-making opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is. You can find out more on the Australian Scamwatch website.

How to protect yourself against scams

Scamwatch advises following these steps to protect yourself:

  1. Stop: don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure about it. Scammers may offer to help you or ask you to verify who you are. Scam messages may urge you to act quickly, and may pretend to be from organisations you know and trust.
  2. Think: ask yourself if a text message or call could be fake. Never click a link in a message. If you’re not sure, say ‘no’ and then hang up, or delete the message or email.
  3. 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 from IDCARE, the national identity and cyber support service, which can help you limit any damage. You can find out more on the IDCARE website. If you become aware of a scam, you can report it on the Australian Cyber Security Centre website or on the Australian Scamwatch website.

Who to contact

For information on scams or to report a scam, go to the Australian Scamwatch website.

To report a scam to the police, go to the Australian Cyber Security Centre website.

To get help if you have been scammed, you can call IDCARE 1800 595 160 or visit the IDCARE website.

Support if you've been scammed

Being scammed can happen to anyone. You can find more information, resources and links to counselling and mental health support services, under our Community health, safety and wellbeing page.

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