Rodney Stevens
Despite the total amount Australians lost to scams in 2024 falling by 25.9 per-cent to $2 billion, more people are falling victim to increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams.
The National Anti-Scam Centre’s Targeting Scams Report, which combines data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange, IDCARE, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, revealed in 2024 scam reports fell by 17.8 per-cent to 494,732, from 601,803 reports in 2023.
Scamwatch data shows that the most reported contact method leading to financial loss was social media, with 7,724 reports about social media scams leading to financial loss in 2024 with overall losses of $69.5 million.
Impersonation scams are a common way online predators try to convince people they are dealing with a reputable organisation.
Bank impersonation scams involve scammers making their phone calls and text messages seemingly appear to be coming from your bank, even sending text messages that appear in the same chain of legitimate messages from your bank.
Be cautious about any request for payment, personal details or login credentials from a person or institution claiming to be from your bank – your bank will never ask you for login credentials such as your banking password or ask you to make payments or transfer money.
Your bank may contact you if the suspect suspicious activity on your account.
Increasingly, scammers are claiming to be from Government organisations or departments including Services Australia, Centrelink, or the Australian Taxation Office and they will send an unsolicited email or text message which contains a link or an urgent request for payment, your login credentials or personal details.
Scammers will threaten legal action, arrest, or even deportation – but government organisations will never send a link asking you to log in to online services in a text message or an email, or with an urgent payment request.
Family and friends’ impersonation scams typically involve a scammer claiming to be someone you know who urgently needs your help, usually financial.
Scammers can use deep fake videos or photos to impersonate your family member – so if you’re contacted by someone claiming to be part of your family or a friend, contact them on the number you have stored in your phone, and if you can’t contact them, assume the scammer is trying their luck.
Try asking personal questions a scammer wouldn’t know the answer to, while being careful not to reveal any sensitive information.
Job impersonation scams contain many layers, from scammers offering low-effort, high-income jobs that require an upfront payment, to scammers requesting to use your bank account to hold and transfer money, while pretending its part of a legitimate role they’re offering.
To prevent becoming a victim, never enter any employment arrangement that asks for access to your bank account or an upfront payment.
Celebrity impersonation scams use the image and name of a well-known person to endorse their fake product, scheme or investment scam, typically on social media.
Do not engage with these posts or scammers and search for any online warnings issued by the well-known public figure or celebrity involved to independently verify that what is being offered is a scam.
Tips to avoid scams
Stop – Don’t give money or your information anyone if unsure.
Check – Ask yourself if the message or call is fake. To check contact the business on a number you have sourced independently.
Protect – if something feels wrong, act quickly. Contact your bank immediately if you notice any unusual activity, or if a scammer obtains your money or information. Seek help and report any suspicious contact or activity to Scamwatch https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam