- A scam is a way of tricking people into handing over money or personal details.
- Anyone can be a victim of a scam.
- There are many types of scams and new types appear often.
- There are things you can do if you're a victim of a scam and to protect yourself.
What the ACCC does
- We deliver education and awareness raising campaigns.
- We provide up-to-date information on scams through our Scamwatch website, social media and email alerts.
- We work with other agencies, law enforcement and private sector to share intelligence and disrupt scams where possible.
What the ACCC can't do
- We don’t track down scammers or recover money lost to scammers.
- We don’t give legal advice or prosecute scammers.
- We can’t tell you if a business is legitimate or a scam.
If you're a victim of a scam
- Contact your bank immediately.
- Seek support from IDCARE.
- Report the scam to Scamwatch. We use reports to identify new scams, disrupt scams, and warn consumers and business. We share some scam reports with law enforcement, banks, and other companies who can take steps to stop scammers.
- Find out where to get help through Scamwatch. Sometimes you'll need to take steps to protect yourself from further scams.
What makes something a scam
A scam is a way of tricking people into handing over money or personal details.
Scams constantly change as scammers take advantage of new technology, new products and services, and local events or crises. Scammers are getting smarter, and anyone can be a victim of a scam.
It can be hard to tell if something is a scam
People sometimes say they’ve been ‘scammed’ when they’re disappointed with a product or service they’ve received from a real business. But a situation like this is probably not a scam.
If someone has a problem with something bought from a real business, they can ask the business to resolve the problem.
With a scam, there's no point doing this, because the whole purpose is to trick the consumer or business.
Types of scams
The most well-known scams that you may come across include:
- Dating and romance: The scammer creates a fake profile to lure you into a relationship, then asks you for money or to invest in something.
- Investment scams: The scammer gets money from you for a fake investment opportunity.
- Buying or selling: The scammer creates fake online stores or classified ads to sell you a product that doesn’t exist. Scammers may also send fake invoices for services or products that you did not order.
- Attempt to gain your personal information: The scammer tricks you into handing over banking or personal details, then uses these details to steal money or gain other like taking out loan in your name. These scams include hacking, phishing and remote access scams and identity theft.
- Threats and extortion: The scammer claims you have an unpaid bill, fine or debt, and uses threats to make you pay them. The scammer may pretend to be from the police or well-known fraud department and trick you into giving your personal or banking information or access to your computer or device.
- Job and employment: The scammer promises you a high-paying job that doesn’t exist or a money-making opportunity in the form of a ponzi or pyramid scheme.
- Unexpected money: The scammer tells you that you’re entitled to money or valuable assets, but must make upfront payments to get them.
- Travel, prizes and lottery scams: The scammer tricks you into giving them money or personal details to get a prize from a lottery, sweepstake or competition.
- Fake charities: The scammer convinces you to pay money to a fake charity.
Find out more about common scams through Scamwatch
Protect yourself from scams
While anyone can be a victim of a scam, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
Be on the lookout
The most important thing is to know that scams exist and be on the lookout for them.
- Always make sure you know who you are dealing with or talking to. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- If you are not sure that an offer is genuine, do not go through with the purchase or share personal details.
- Check if the company is registered through the ABN lookup website.
- Read reviews of the business and check for signs that it could be a scam.
- Use a credit card rather than a debit card or bank transfer so that you can ask your bank for a chargeback.
Keep up to date at Scamwatch
The ACCC’s Scamwatch website has up-to-date information about scams and how to get help if you have been impacted by a scam.
- Subscribe to our email alerts on the latest scams
- Find out about the latest scams at Scamwatch
- Follow us on Twitter @scamwatch_gov for daily warnings on current scams circulating in the community.
See also
- Little Black Book of Scams is one of our most popular publications. It contains the Scammers' Black List to help you identify and avoid the 10 most common methods scammers use.
- Scamwatch