Australians are being urged to stay alert to scams as Scams Awareness Week runs from 25–29 August, with new figures showing both the scale of the problem and the importance of vigilance.
ANZ Bank research released on Monday revealed a 15 per cent drop in financial losses to scams between October 2024 and June 2025, but experts warn that cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics.
The Australian Institute of Criminology reported earlier this month that almost half of the nation’s internet users were targeted by cybercrime in the past year, with identity theft the most common method.
Authorities say scams remain a widespread and costly threat. Australians have already lost more than $147 million to scams in 2025, including $48 million reported by NSW residents, according to the National Anti-Scam Centre. NSW residents lodged more than 25,000 reports with Scamwatch in the first eight months of the year .
Phishing scams remain the most common in the state, with nearly 9,000 reports. Identity theft, online shopping scams and false billing also feature heavily.
Cybercrime experts also warn of the growing use of social media by criminals to lure people into so-called ‘money muling’ schemes. NGM Group’s head of financial crime operations Craig Hollingsworth said offenders were offering cash to people willing to open or hand over access to bank accounts.
“They are scammers who are very good at exploiting people who may be too scared to refuse or do not understand that what is being asked of them is not just serious, it’s illegal,” Mr Hollingsworth said.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib urged people to slow down before clicking.
“It’s worth taking the time to be sure you are not being scammed and we want everyone to take a moment to stop, check, and protect themselves and their loved ones against scams,” Mr Dib said.
“Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, targeting people through social media, messaging apps and impersonating trusted organisations.”
Older Australians remain particularly at risk, with those aged 65 and over lodging more than 6,100 reports in the last year .
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said consumers should be cautious when buying online.
“Buying from private sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace can carry real risks, so if a deal seems too good to be true, it often is, and consumers should take extra care and trust their instincts,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“NSW Fair Trading encourages people to buy from reputable retailers and to be cautious when dealing with unfamiliar online sellers.”
ANZ said customer engagement with security features and a stronger understanding of illicit schemes had helped drive down losses. The bank also reported stopping $100 million worth of scams in the nine months to June.
ANZ’s head of Australia and New Zealand customer protection, Shaq Johnson, said constant vigilance was critical.
“Staying ahead of cybercriminals requires constant work and vigilance,” Mr Johnson said.
“Our customers are becoming increasingly aware of how to protect themselves,” he said.
Authorities and banks are urging people to continue building their awareness through education opportunities and to report suspicious activity to Scamwatch.
Scams Awareness Week resources are available at scamwatch.gov.au/stop-check-protect.
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