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Australia (AU)

Australia is the world's sixth-largest country by area and one of the most urbanised nations on Earth, with over 85% of its 27 million people living in coastal cities.

Capital: Canberra
Region: Oceania
Language: English
Currency: AUD ($)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 74)
Emergency: 000
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Australia.

Australians lost $2.18 billion to scams in 2025 (National Anti-Scam Centre / ACCC Targeting Scams Report 2025) — up 7.8% from 2024. Investment scams alone accounted for $837.7 million. Expats are disproportionately targeted due to unfamiliarity with Australian bureaucratic processes and urgency around visa and tax compliance. Three golden rules: (1) The ATO, myGov, Centrelink, Home Affairs, and the Australian Federal Police will NEVER call threatening arrest or deportation — hang up immediately. (2) No legitimate Australian government body will ever request payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. (3) Verify every government contact by calling the published number on the agency's official .gov.au website.

ATO / myGov impersonation (tax debt scam)

critical

A caller or SMS claims to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) stating you have an outstanding tax debt and must pay immediately to avoid arrest or deportation. The call uses urgent threats of police involvement and may "transfer" you to a fake "Australian Federal Police" officer. Payment is demanded via iTunes gift cards, cryptocurrency, or bank transfer. The ATO confirmed a 300% rise in ATO impersonation email scams in recent reporting periods.

How to spot it
  • - The ATO never demands immediate payment by phone without first sending a written notice to your postal or myGov inbox
  • - The ATO never asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer as payment for tax debts
  • - The ATO never threatens immediate arrest or deportation for an unpaid tax debt
  • - Caller ID can be spoofed to display a legitimate ATO number — do not trust caller ID alone
  • - Any instruction to keep the call secret ("do not tell your accountant or family") is a definitive red flag
What to do: Hang up immediately. Do not call back any number provided by the caller. Verify your actual ATO account status by logging into myGov (my.gov.au) directly and navigating to the ATO section. Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam and to the ATO at ato.gov.au/scams. Call the ATO directly on 13 28 61 to verify any alleged debt.

Investment scam / pig-butchering (crypto fraud)

critical

Investment scams were Australia's costliest scam category in 2025, causing $837.7 million in losses (NASC Targeting Scams Report 2025). "Pig-butchering" scams involve fraudsters cultivating a friendship or romantic connection online over weeks or months before introducing a fake cryptocurrency or trading platform that shows fabricated returns. Victims are encouraged to invest increasingly larger amounts; when they attempt to withdraw, they are told to pay "tax" or "fees" — which disappear along with all funds.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited contact via social media, WhatsApp, or LinkedIn from someone unusually friendly or romantically interested
  • - Investment opportunity introduced only after a trust-building period — the "pig fattening" phase
  • - Platform not listed on ASIC's register of licensed financial services providers (moneysmart.gov.au/check)
  • - Promised returns are consistently high (e.g. 10–30% per month) regardless of market conditions
  • - Withdrawal requests are blocked by demands for additional "tax payments" or "verification fees"
  • - Fake app or trading dashboard showing large profits you cannot actually access
What to do: Stop all further investment immediately. Do not pay any "release fees" — these are part of the scam. Report to ASIC at asic.gov.au/about-asic/contact-us/reporting-misconduct-to-asic/ and to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. Contact IDCARE (1800 595 160) for victim support and recovery guidance. File a police report for insurance purposes.

NBN tech support scam

critical

An unsolicited caller claims to be from NBN Co, a named internet service provider, or "the government network team", warning that your NBN connection will be disconnected within 24 hours due to a "fault" or "security breach". The caller directs you to install remote access software (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, AnyDesk) to "fix" the issue. Once installed, the scammer accesses your banking apps, steals credentials, or demands payment via gift card. NBN Co has confirmed it will never make unsolicited calls or door-knock to sell services.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited call claiming your internet or NBN connection is at risk of disconnection
  • - Caller asks you to download remote-access software such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer
  • - Urgency pressure — "your connection will be cut in the next hour"
  • - Caller knows your name or address (obtained from public records or data breaches — this does not make them legitimate)
  • - Any request for gift cards to "pay for repairs" or "refund an overpayment"
What to do: Hang up immediately. NBN Co (nbnco.com.au) confirms it never contacts customers about technical faults by cold call. Contact your actual internet service provider using the number on their official website. Report to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and to the ACMA Spam Intelligence Database. Uninstall any remote access software if you have already installed it and contact your bank immediately.

Fake toll road SMS (Linkt / EastLink impersonation)

warning

Scam SMS messages impersonating Linkt or EastLink claim you have an overdue toll balance and threaten fines or licence suspension unless you click a link and pay immediately. Over 300,000 Australians reported receiving these messages. The link leads to a fake payment page that steals card details. Linkt has confirmed these SMS messages are fraudulent.

How to spot it
  • - SMS from a number or sender name that is not your registered toll account provider
  • - Urgent threat of licence suspension or large fines for a small unpaid toll amount
  • - Link URL does not match linkt.com.au or eastlink.com.au exactly
  • - No reference to your registered vehicle plate or account number
  • - Received even if you do not have a registered toll account or have not driven on toll roads recently
What to do: Do not click the link. Check your actual toll account by typing linkt.com.au or eastlink.com.au directly into your browser. Report the SMS to Scamwatch and forward it to the ACMA at 7226 (SCAM). Delete the message after reporting.

Superannuation / SMSF fraud

critical

Scammers contact people by phone or social media posing as financial advisers offering to help "consolidate", "access early", or "optimise" superannuation. In reality, they encourage victims to establish a self-managed super fund (SMSF) and roll their entire super balance into it, then invest in fake high-return schemes or cryptocurrency platforms that disappear with the funds. ASIC reported in January 2026 that super trustees must urgently improve anti-scam controls. The ATO and ASIC both issued SMSF scam warnings through 2025.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited contact offering to help you access super early outside of legitimate compassionate grounds
  • - Claims of a special government scheme to release super before retirement age
  • - Request for your myGov login, Tax File Number, or super fund login details
  • - Pressure to establish a new SMSF to gain "control" over your super
  • - Investment returns promised are unusually high (crypto, offshore property, or "guaranteed" returns)
What to do: Hang up. Access your super directly via myGov > ATO > Super. Check your super fund details at moneysmart.gov.au/check. Report suspected SMSF fraud to the ATO at 1800 060 062 and to ASIC at asic.gov.au/about-asic/contact-us/reporting-misconduct-to-asic/. The ATO can freeze fraudulent SMSF activity. Never share myGov credentials with anyone.

Fake rental listing (bond fraud)

critical

Scammers copy photos from legitimate property listings on realestate.com.au or Domain, re-advertise at below-market price, claim to be overseas, and request a bond plus advance rent via bank transfer before any inspection. Common on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, and fake real estate agency websites. With Australia's tight rental market, desperate applicants are especially vulnerable.

How to spot it
  • - Price significantly below comparable rentals in the suburb (20%+ below median)
  • - Landlord refuses in-person inspection and claims to be overseas or "too busy"
  • - Urgency: "50 other applicants are ready to pay today" or offer expires in hours
  • - Request for bond or advance rent before signing a formal lease
  • - Reverse image search shows photos belong to a different listing or a real estate agency site
  • - Communication only via email using a free provider (Gmail, Yahoo) rather than an agency domain
What to do: Never pay bond or advance rent without physically inspecting the property and signing a formal lease. Verify the listing exists on official platforms. In all Australian states and territories, bonds must be lodged with the official tenancy bond authority (e.g. NSW Fair Trading, RTBA Victoria, RTA Queensland) — never paid directly to a private individual. Report to Scamwatch and local police.

myGov / Services Australia phishing

warning

SMS or email impersonating myGov or Services Australia claims your account is locked, a payment is waiting, or identity verification is required. The link leads to a fake myGov login page. With stolen myGov credentials, scammers can redirect ATO tax refunds and Centrelink payments to their own accounts. Scamwatch confirmed this is one of the most prevalent government impersonation vectors in Australia.

How to spot it
  • - myGov does not send SMS links directing you to log in — always access myGov by typing my.gov.au directly
  • - Sender email address is not from @servicesaustralia.gov.au or @my.gov.au
  • - Urgent language about account suspension, payment on hold, or identity expiry
  • - Link URL does not exactly match my.gov.au or servicesaustralia.gov.au
What to do: Do not click any link. Access myGov only at my.gov.au by typing the address directly. Enable multi-factor authentication on your myGov account. Report phishing to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) at cyber.gov.au/report and to the ACMA at acma.gov.au.

Immigration agent fraud / fake MARA agents

warning

Unregistered individuals pose as Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) agents and charge fees for visa advice or applications. They may provide false advice leading to visa refusals or application bans, or simply take money and disappear. Common targets are international students, skilled worker visa applicants, and partner visa applicants.

How to spot it
  • - Agent cannot provide their MARN (Migration Agent Registration Number)
  • - Guarantees visa approval — no legitimate agent can guarantee this
  • - Requests very large upfront fees with no written service agreement
  • - Advises misrepresentation in application documents to improve chances
  • - Not listed on the MARA public register at portal.mara.gov.au/search-the-register-of-migration-agents/
What to do: Verify any migration agent at portal.mara.gov.au/search-the-register-of-migration-agents/ before engaging them. Only use registered migration agents (valid MARN required) or Australian legal practitioners for visa assistance. Report unregistered agents and complaints to the OMARA (Office of the MARA) at mara.gov.au.

Reporting

Where to report: Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre / ACCC): scamwatch.gov.au — primary national scam reporting portal. ASD's Australian Cyber Security Centre: cyber.gov.au/report — cybercrime and phishing. Australian Federal Police ReportCyber: cyber.gov.au/report — online financial crime. ATO Fraud Hotline: 1800 060 062. ASIC (investment and financial fraud): asic.gov.au/about-asic/contact-us/reporting-misconduct-to-asic/ or 1300 300 630. OMARA (migration agent fraud): mara.gov.au.

Consumer helpline: ACCC (consumer rights): accc.gov.au or 1300 302 502. IDCARE (identity theft and scam recovery support): idcare.org or 1800 595 160 (free). Financial Counselling Australia (free financial counselling): financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au or 1800 007 007. Moneysmart (ASIC financial guidance): moneysmart.gov.au.