Australians are losing more money to scams than ever before as cybercriminals look to exploit vulnerable people.
In 2022, $3.1 billion was lost to scammers, up 80 per cent from the year before.
There are a few different ways you can report scams in Australia, including by going straight to one of the country's major phone and internet providers.
Here's a quick guide on what to do if you see – or fall victim – to a scam, as well as some tips for identifying them.
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How to report scams in Australia
There are a few different bodies you can report a scam to in Australia, depending on whether you've fallen victim to the scheme or have just noticed it.
If you've just noticed a scam without falling victim to it, you can report it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch website.
The ACCC uses reports to monitor ongoing scam trends and can share the information provided to it with law enforcement.
Another option exists for Australians who use Telstra as their phone provider.
The telco giant has launched a new service, allowing customers who receive a scam text message to report it directly to them,
To report the scam directly to Telstra, customers should forward any text to the number 7226 (SCAM).
The telco won't reply, but it says reporting messages will help it block future scam texts.
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What should I do if I've been scammed?
If you've fallen victim to a scam, there are different ways to go about reporting it.
Scamwatch is still a good resource to report to, but the ACCC can't help you recover any money you've lost, nor will it help you track down a scammer.
It's important to report the scam to police, which can be done through the Australian government's ReportCyber program.
The program is a joint initiative between a range of state and federal bodies, including the AFP and all the state and territory police forces.
To report a scam, go to the ReportCyber website and follow the prompts.
The process should take about ten minutes.
You can also contact the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 292 371.
In addition to reporting the crime, you should also immediately contact your bank or financial institution if you fear you've fallen victim to a scam as, like the ACCC, police won't be able to recover any money you've lost.
Other things you should do if scammed include stopping talking or communicating with the scammer and noting down any information about the scam that could help authorities with an investigation.
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How to spot scams
With scammers continuously finding new and innovative ways to exploit Australians, it can be tricky to spot the latest cons doing the rounds.
However, there are some general principles that will help you spot a scam.
First up, never click on a suspicious link or hand out personal information to someone you think might be a scammer.
"Don't click on links, open any attachments or reply to requests," the Australian Cyber Security Sector (ACSC) says.
"Scam messages may try and trick you into giving out your personal information.
"A scammer might ask for your bank account details, passwords or credit card numbers.
"They may also ask you to download files, software, or allow remote access to your computer."
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It's worth staying familiar with the common types of scams, including dating and investment scams and phishing attempts through email and text.
Scamwatch publishes information about recent scam activity in Australia, while the ACSC also has a page outlining the types of schemes to be aware of.
As scammers will often try to impersonate people or institutions you trust, you should always go directly to those people if you're worried someone might be trying to scam you.
For example, if someone reaches out to you saying they're your son or daughter using a new number, you should always try contacting them using their old number or a different contact detail to see if they really have changed their number.
Similarly, if someone claiming to be from your bank contacts you, it's worth contacting the bank directly yourself using their main phone number on their official website.
"Check what the official source says about what details they might request from you," the ACSC says.
"Often companies or government agencies will say what they will and will not ask you online or over the phone.
"For example, the bank may tell you that they will never ask for your password.
"If someone claiming to be from the bank then asks you for your password, you know it is likely a scam."
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