Scams in Australia – Report, Recover, NASC Guide

Established 1 July 2023 to coordinate government, banks, telcos, and digital platforms. Direct cause of 2024’s loss reduction.

ASIC + banks + NASC joint task force took down investment-scam websites. Investment scam losses fell 27.3% YoY.

Reducing Scam Calls & Scam SMS Industry Code enforced — SMS scam reports dropped 62% from 2024 to 2025.

Despite 2024’s win, 2025 losses rose 7.8% to A$2.18B. Online-based scams up 31.8%. The fight continues.

Single largest loss category. Fake trading platforms, crypto investment, pig butchering. Often originate via Telegram or social-media DMs.

BEC-style scams targeting businesses and conveyancing. Scammer hijacks email thread, sends new “updated” bank details for an invoice.

Dating apps, Instagram, Facebook. Often originated by Southeast Asian scam compounds. Long-game tactics over weeks or months.

SMS impersonating Linkt tolls, Australia Post, ATO, Medicare. Designed to steal card details via lookalike payment pages.

“Tech support,” “NBN technician,” or fake bank fraud team asks you to install AnyDesk or TeamViewer. They drain your accounts live.

Sports investment scams promising guaranteed-win betting systems. Losses tripled YoY. Increase of 19.6% in reports.

Australian banks have 24/7 fraud lines. PayID and Osko transfers may be reversible within hours. CommBank, NAB, ANZ, Westpac all have app-based instant freeze.

scamwatch.gov.au — Australia’s primary scam intake. Reports feed law enforcement and disruption activities.

For cybercrime, account takeover, ransomware, ID theft via the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

Free national identity-recovery support: 1800 595 160. Tailored recovery plan for identity-related scam impacts.