Scam and Fraud Protections in Australia
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, federal regulations, and official government guidance. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and court decisions. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Australia's anti-scam framework grew up after the explosion of investment and impersonation scams in the early 2020s, when reported losses crossed $2 billion a year. It now layers ACL conduct provisions, banking and telco rules, and a dedicated central agency.
- National Anti-Scam Centre: launched in July 2023 within the ACCC, coordinating scam prevention across government, police, banks, and telcos.
- Scamwatch: the ACCC's reporting portal at scamwatch.gov.au. In 2023, Australians reported losing more than $2.7 billion to scams.
- ACL hooks: scam conduct typically breaches s 18 (misleading or deceptive conduct) and ss 29–37 (false representations). The ACCC can act against businesses that facilitate scams as well as the scammers themselves.
- Banking protections: under the ePayments Code, if your account is used for an unauthorised transaction and you didn't contribute to the loss, the bank must generally reimburse you.
- Telecommunications: telcos must block scam calls and SMS under the Reducing Scam Calls and Scam SMS industry codes registered with the ACMA — and they're audited on it.
When does it apply?
- You have been targeted by or lost money to a scam — including phishing, investment scams, romance scams, impersonation scams, or fake online stores.
- A business has made false or misleading claims that caused you financial loss.
- Your personal or financial information has been compromised by fraudulent activity.
What to Do If You Have Been Scammed or Defrauded in Australia
- Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au — even if you did not lose money.
- Contact your bank immediately if you have transferred money or shared financial details. Ask them to attempt a recall or chargeback.
- Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on any compromised accounts.
- Contact IDCARE (idcare.org, 1800 595 160) — Australia’s national identity and cyber support service — for help if your identity has been compromised.
- Report to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) if the scam involved cybercrime.
What should you NOT do?
- Don’t send more money to “recover” lost funds — recovery scams are a common follow-up tactic.
- Don’t be embarrassed to report — scams are sophisticated and can affect anyone. Reporting helps protect others.
- Don’t click links in suspicious emails, texts, or social media messages — go directly to official websites by typing the URL yourself.
Use the jurisdiction bar at the top of the page to pick your state — you'll see how state law differs from Australian federal law.
6 states available
Common Questions
When does scam and fraud protections apply?
You have been targeted by or lost money to a scam — including phishing, investment scams, romance scams, impersonation scams, or fake online stores.A business has made false or misleading claims that caused you financial loss.Your personal or financial information has been compromised by fraudulent activity.
What should I do if I have lost money to a scam or fraud in Australia?
Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au — even if you did not lose money.Contact your bank immediately if you have transferred money or shared financial details. Ask them to attempt a recall or chargeback.Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on any compromised accounts.Contact IDCARE (idcare.org, 1800 595 160) — Australia’s national identity and cyber support service — for help if your identity has been compromised.Report to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) if the scam involved cybercrime.
What mistakes should I avoid with scam and fraud protections?
Don’t send more money to “recover” lost funds — recovery scams are a common follow-up tactic.Don’t be embarrassed to report — scams are sophisticated and can affect anyone. Reporting helps protect others.Don’t click links in suspicious emails, texts, or social media messages — go directly to official websites by typing the URL yourself.
Scam and Fraud Protections in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.