Scam awareness, reporting & recovery guides
Don't get played.
No one is scam-proof — but you can be scam-aware. Plain-English guides to the scams doing the rounds in Australia, plus the official ReportCyber and Scamwatch links when you need to fight back.
What's new
Scams doing the rounds right now
Fresh alerts pulled from official warnings and news reports. Checked weekly — if it's new, it shows up here.
16 Sept · Phishing
Hot right nowChatGPT is reportedly sending shoppers to scam sites
Reports indicate that ChatGPT is inadvertently directing users to malicious scam sites, posing a new risk for online shoppers seeking information or products. Always double-check URLs and be wary of unexpected redirects.
Via insideretail.com.au →
16 Sept · Investment scams
Hot right nowHow Tasmanians can spot and avoid AI-powered Forex Trading scams
AI-powered Forex trading scams are becoming more prevalent, using sophisticated algorithms to trick investors. Tasmanians are being warned to be extra vigilant and understand the red flags of these advanced schemes.
Via The Examiner →
11 Sept · Buying & selling
Hot right nowGift card scam hides in plain sight
A new variation of the gift card scam involves tampering with cards directly on supermarket shelves. Always inspect gift cards carefully for any signs of tampering before purchasing or loading funds.
Via National Seniors Australia →
9 Sept · Impersonation scams
Hot right nowATO and myGov impersonation scams
A surge in phishing attempts impersonating the ATO and myGov, often with fake refund claims or urgent action required. Never click links in suspicious messages; go directly to the official website.
Via Scamwatch →
Not affiliated with any government agency. Always verify on Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) or ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) before acting.
Just got scammed? Do these four things now.
Call your bank
Money moved? Your bank can flag the account and try to recall the transfer.
Change your passwords
Start with email, turn on two-factor auth, and don't reuse passwords.
Report it officially
Cybercrime goes to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au/report), everything else to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam).
Identity exposed?
Call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 — free national identity support.
The official three-step habit
Stop. Check. Protect.
The Australian government's anti-scam campaign — and the only habit you need to remember. Run it on every unexpected message, call, or offer.
Step 1 · Stop
Don't give money or personal details to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Take a breath. Urgency is the scammer's weapon.
Step 2 · Check
Verify the request independently. Call the organisation on its official number — never the one in the message. Search the name + "scam".
Step 3 · Protect
If it's a scam, report it and act fast — contact your bank, tell a trusted friend, and report on the official channels.
Know the enemy
The 18 scam types doing the rounds
Phishing Scams
Emails or messages that impersonate a trusted organisation — your bank, the ATO, Telstra, AusPost — to steal your login details or card number.
Official guide on Scamwatch
Account & Identity Takeover
Criminals use stolen personal details to take over your accounts, open credit in your name, or apply for loans and government payments.
Official guide on Scamwatch
Business Email Compromise
Scammers hack or spoof a business email — often the boss's or a supplier's — and trick staff into changing bank details or paying fake invoices.
Official guide on Scamwatch
Buying & Selling Scams
Fake listings, buyers who 'overpay' and demand a refund, fake escrow services, and sellers who disappear after you pay on marketplace sites.
Official guide on Scamwatch
Donation Scams
Fake charities and emergency appeals — especially after natural disasters — that collect donations that never reach anyone in need.
Official guide on Scamwatch
Email Scams
The catch-all inbox menace: malicious attachments, invoice fraud, ransomware, and fake 'account suspension' emails designed to get you to click or pay.
Official guide on Scamwatch
Real losses, names changed
Stories of scams
Cautionary tales based on the patterns Australians keep reporting — so you can spot the script before it plays out on you.
3 min read
The voice on the phone sounded just like her son
A call from 'her son' in jail needing $4,000 for bail. The voice was perfect — because it wasn't her son at all.
AI voice-cloning · family emergency
3 min read
The tradie who kept finding 'urgent' problems
He knocked on the door, pointed at the roof, and quoted $6,000. By the time he left, the job was a $40,000 nightmare.
In-person · doorstep tradie scam
Free lessons
8 plain-English lessons
From the psychology of scams to the recovery playbook. Each one is a short read — no jargon, no doom.
The monthly scam alert digest.
One email a month: the scams doing the rounds, what to watch for, and one thing to check. No spam — we're too busy spotting scams to send any.
Be Scam Aware is an independent educational site and is not affiliated with any government agency. Reporting and recovery happen through the official channels: ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) and Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au). Always verify requests independently before sending money or personal details.