Scam and Fraud Protections in South 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 has a growing framework to protect consumers from scams and fraud, built on the ACL’s misleading conduct provisions and new dedicated anti-scam initiatives:
- National Anti-Scam Centre: Established in July 2023 within the ACCC, this centre coordinates scam prevention across government, law enforcement, banks, and telecommunications companies.
- Scamwatch: The ACCC’s Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) lets you report scams and check warnings. In 2023, Australians reported losing over $2.7 billion to scams.
- ACL protections: Scam conduct often breaches s 18 (misleading or deceptive conduct) and ss 29–37 (false representations). The ACCC can take enforcement action against businesses that facilitate scams.
- Banking protections: Under the ePayments Code, if your account is used for an unauthorised transaction and you did not contribute to the loss, your bank must generally reimburse you.
- Telecommunications: Telcos are required to block scam calls and SMS under the Reducing Scam Calls and Scam SMS industry codes registered with the ACMA.
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.
How South Australia differs from federal law
Scam and fraud protections in SA involve both federal and state agencies. CBS is the primary state body for consumer scam issues, while SAPOL handles criminal fraud.
- Consumer and Business Services (CBS) provides scam awareness education and investigates businesses involved in fraudulent conduct in SA.
- SAPOL investigates criminal fraud, including identity theft, online scams, and financial fraud. Victims should report fraud to SAPOL as soon as possible.
- The federal Scamwatch (operated by the ACCC) collects scam reports nationally. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) handles reports of cybercrime through ReportCyber.
- SA financial institutions are subject to the ePayments Code and ASIC regulations, which provide protections for unauthorised transactions and scam losses.
- Identity theft victims in SA can apply for a Commonwealth Victims' Certificate to help restore their identity credentials.
Additional Steps in South Australia
Report scams to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au), ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) for online scams, and SAPOL (131 444) for fraud. Contact your bank immediately if money has been transferred. For financial disputes, apply to AFCA (afca.org.au).
Relevant Law: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Schedule 2, s 18; Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA), Part 5 (fraud offences); Cybercrime Act 2001 (Cth)
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.