The number of scams in Victoria is growing. According to Scamwatch, Victorians of all ages lost almost $70 million to scams in 2024.
Knowing how to identify scams and what to do afterwards will help you and your loved ones stay safe.
Tips for avoiding scams
- Stop: don’t give money or personal information to anyone if unsure.
- Check: ask yourself if the message, call or website link looks suspicious or could be fake.
- Protect: act quickly if something feels wrong.
Spot the warning signs
Scams take many forms and can be hard to spot. New scams pop up all the time and can affect people of all ages.
Know the common warning signs:
- It sounds too good to be true
- You are asked to help someone you don’t know
- The message has links or attachments
- You feel pressured to act quickly or that you’ve done something wrong
- They ask you to pay in an unusual way
- They ask you to set up new PayIDs or new accounts.
Explore more about warning signs on Scamwatch’s Help to spot and avoid scams web page.
Protect your data online
Take care when sharing personal information online, over the phone or by email.
- Don’t open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or click on links or attachments in emails – delete them. These could infect your device with malware.
- Don’t send money or share bank details or personal information with anyone you don’t know or trust.
- Check websites and email recipients before sharing any personal or payment information.
- Use strong and unique passwords.
- Set up multi-factor authentication to protect your online accounts.
- Monitor your accounts and devices for any unusual activity or unexpected communication.
- Never give anyone remote access to your computer if they’ve contacted you out of the blue.
A government agency or business will never ask you to pay them with gift cards, iTunes cards or Bitcoin.
Read more tips on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.
What to do if you are scammed
Being scammed is a stressful, scary experience that can happen to anyone. Scams can happen any time and affect people of all ages. The best thing is stay calm and seek help as soon as possible.
If you think you have been scammed, or something doesn’t feel right, there are a few things you can do to help limit the damage.
Act immediately
- Contact your bank immediately and ask them to stop any transactions.
- Stop sending money. Don’t send any more money until you’re 100% sure it's not a scam.
- Change your passwords on all your devices and online accounts.
- Contact IDCARE, Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. They can help you make a plan (for free) to limit the damage.
Get support
Being scammed is an awful experience. You may wish to talk to someone about your experience or get some additional guidance. You don’t need to deal with it alone.
If a scam is causing you problems with debt, a financial counsellor can help. This is a free and confidential service to help you get your finances back on track.
If you need to talk to someone, please reach out to family and friends. You can also seek help online or over the phone via:
- Lifeline: call 13 11 14 or talk to someone using their online crisis support chat service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
- Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 4636 or talk to someone using their online chat service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Visit the Get support web page for more resources.
Report the scam
Once you have secured your details, report the scam to Scamwatch to help warn others.
By reporting the scam, you’ll help stop scammers from scamming more people. You’ll also make it safer for all Victorians to use online services.
Learn more on the Victorian Government’s Online scams web page.
Common scams
There are many types of online scams in Victoria. Familiarise yourself with some of the most common.
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