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Reporting scams

If you spot a scam

Scamwatch protects consumers Australia wide.

If you have been a victim of a scam

Report the scam

Your bank – step 1

If you gave your credit card or bank account details to a scammer, or someone who you think might be trying to scam you, contact your bank or credit card company straight away.

The Office of Fair Trading – step 2

You can:

Scamwatch – step 3

You can:

Scamwatch protects consumers Australia wide.

The Queensland Police Service – step 4

If you sent money to an individual scammer (not a company), or someone stole your identity, you need to report it to police.

Overseas online money scam

If you sent money to someone overseas (e.g. you bought a product or service from an overseas seller on eBay, sent money to help a overseas charity, or sent money to be apart of an overseas lottery) and realise it is a scam, follow these steps:

  1. Work out what state or country you sent money to. You should be able to find this out from the scammer’s BSB number. If you sent money to many locations, find out the state or country where you first sent your money.
  2. If you sent money to the United Kingdom, you should report the scam directly to the United Kingdom Police by filling out their UK online form. If you sent money to any other country, report the scam by filling out our international online form. If you fill out our form, we will send details of your situation to the police in the scammer’s country.
  3. Keep the form reference number and wait for someone from the police service in the scammer’s country, or from the Queensland Police Service to post, call or email you information. You can give your reference number to PayPal so they know what is going on.

Keep all evidence of the scam and money transfer (e.g. emails from the scammer) as the police will want to see these.

Australian online money scam

If you sent money to an Australian (e.g. you buy from an Australian seller on a site such as eBay or Gumtree), and realise it was a scam (also known as auction fraud), follow these steps:

  1. If you made went through an auction website (e.g. eBay or Gumtree), report the scam to the website where you found the scammer. The website should tell you the scammer’s name, phone number and city.
  2. If the website cannot tell you, work out where the scammer is living. If you transferred money by direct deposit, you should be able find this out from the scammer’s BSB number. If you sent money to the scammer in many places, find out where you first sent your money.
  3. Report the scam to the police by filling out our Australian online form. We will send details of your situation to the police service in the scammer’s state.
  4. Keep the reference number the form gives you and wait for someone from the police service in the scammer’s state to post, call or email you information. If you want, you can give your reference number to PayPal so they know what is going on.

Keep all of your evidence of the scam and money transfer safe (e.g. emails asking you for money) as the police will want to see these.

Stolen identity

If you think someone has stolen your identity, you need to report it your local police station.

Face-to-face scams

If you know of, or are the victim of, a face-to-face scam (e.g. someone dressed up as a tradesperson comes to your door and takes your money for a service they do not do) you should report it to Crime Stoppers.

By email

Email admin@crimestoppersqld.com.au

By phone

Call 1800 333 000 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Financial investment scams

If you know of, or are the victim of, a financial investment scam you should report it to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Tax scams

If you know of, or are the victim of, a tax related scam (or any scam that asks you for your tax file number) you should report it to the Australian Taxation Office.

Protect yourself from scams

If you are the victim of a scam, a criminal may take, or trick you into giving them, money or details of your identity. Always keep your bank account details and identity documents safe. If a criminal can pretend to be you, they can take out credit cards and loans in your name.

Tips

  • Never send money, or bank details, to anyone you do not know and trust.
  • Keep receipts and check your bank statements. If you see something strange, report it to your bank.
  • Keep your bankcards safe and do not tell anyone your PIN number.
  • Know how to stop your subscription services.
  • If a salesperson comes to your door, ask to see his or her identification. You don’t have to let them in and they must leave as soon as you ask them to.
  • Don’t respond to text messages or missed calls from numbers you don’t know.
  • Be suspicious of emails from people you don’t know that promise you a solution (e.g. money or good health).
  • Read all terms and conditions of offers closely.
  • Beware of job offers where you need to pay money upfront.
  • Beware of investments that promise you money for not much risk.
  • If someone offers you an investment or financial service, ask for his or her Australian Financial Services Licence number.
  • Always get advice if an offer involves a large amount of time or money.
  • Don’t click on any links in, or open any files attached to emails that may be spam.
  • If you aren’t sure about a link, hover your mouse over it before clicking. The real web address will appear in the bottom left of your screen – if it appears dodgy, do not click it.
  • Never reply to a spam email or SMS (even to tell them you want to unsubscribe).
  • Never call a number in a spam email or SMS.
  • Do not use software that auto-fills your information into online forms.
  • Never send your bank details by email or text.
  • Only enter your information onto secure websites owned by companies that you know and trust (if a website is secure there will be a small padlock in the bottom right corner and the web address will start with http).
  • Check, and if necessary change, the privacy settings on your social media accounts so that you are comfortable with the amount of personal information you’re sharing.
  • Cut up, burn or shred your old bills, statements and cards so that others can’t find and use them.
  • Order a copy of your credit report every year to make sure no one is using your name to borrow money or run up debts.
  • Treat your personal details the same as you would money.

Types of scams

Common types of scams that you need to be cautious of are:

Contact us

You can contact the Office of Fair Trading by phone or email if you need more information on reporting a scam.

By phone

Phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68) Monday-Friday 8am-6pm.

By email

Email BrisbaneOFT@deedi.qld.gov.au.

Last updated
29 January 2013

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