Common scams

We get lots of complaints from victims of scams and fraud. We work hard to help as many as we can, but so many scams come from outside Australia. In these cases, it’s almost impossible to get your money back.

Scamwatch provides information on common scams that you should look out for. Learn how to recognise and protect yourself. Follow the links on this page to find out more about each type of scam.

Consumers

Some of the most common scams are:

• online shopping scams
• mobile phone plans
• identity theft scams
• rebate scams.

Personalised scams aim to find out your personal details so they can target you directly. These types of scams include:

• door-to-door scams
• classifieds scams
• dating and romance scams
• fake charities.

Some common scams pose as opportunities. These include:

• unexpected prize and lottery scams
• pyramid schemes scams
• travel prize scams
• inheritance scams
• investment scams
• Nigerian scams
• health and medical scams
• betting and sports investment schemes
• remote access scams.

Businesses

Learn how to recognise and protect your business from:

• false billing
• malware and ransomware
• overpayment scams
• phishing scams.