Australians reported more than 108,000 scams and roughly $175 million in losses to the National Anti‑scam Centre’s Scamwatch service in the first half of 2025, with fake websites, online advertisements and contact through social media the criminals’ preferred methods, the centre says.
Scamwatch recorded 108,305 reports in the January–June period, a 24 per cent fall in total reports compared with the same period in 2024. Despite fewer reports overall, the value of losses rose sharply: $174.8 million was reported lost, a 26 per cent increase on the first half of last year. Reports involving financial loss increased by 40.5 per cent, with particularly large rises among people who speak English as a second language (about 44 per cent) and First Nations Australians (55.3 per cent) compared with H1 2024.
The centre noted that losses remain well below the peaks seen in 2022 and early 2023: the 2025 total is 39 per cent lower than the equivalent period in 2023. The average reported loss in the first half of 2025 was $12,212, about 10 per cent lower than a year earlier.
Phishing and cryptocurrency scams were a major contributor to the harm recorded. Losses to phishing scams totalled $19.5 million, driven in part by a rise in cryptocurrency impersonation scams; 14,235 reports in the period involved losses to crypto scams, which often mimic bank‑impersonation tactics. Shopping scams were the single biggest source of reported financial loss, with more than 6,300 reports in the first half of 2025. Scamwatch data show criminals built convincing online stores and lured buyers with offers that looked too good to refuse.
One victim lost more than $11,000 after booking through a fake travel‑agent website that offered a “free digital travel assistant” service. The scammer cancelled the airline booking but kept the money and became unreachable when the victim tried to follow up.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe urged Australians to be alert as part of Scams Awareness Week, running from 25–29 August. “Technology is helping scammers reach more people than ever before and we see scams becoming more sophisticated and harder for people to detect,” she said. “This Scams Awareness Week, we’re encouraging everyone to talk about scams, watch for the signs and remember three simple words that can help make all the difference: Stop. Check. Protect. As scams become more sophisticated, we are urging more businesses to join the NASC and share data to improve disruption capability across the ecosystem.”
Ms Lowe also warned that scammers were increasingly using websites and social media to target people. “Scammers are increasingly targeting people on websites and social media, knowing we’re all spending more time and money online. Taking just a few moments to verify a seller or offer can be the difference between a good deal and a devastating financial loss,” she said, and urged people to avoid clicking on suspicious ads or links and to use secure payment methods such as credit cards or PayPal.
The National Anti‑scam Centre is using Scams Awareness Week to press for greater co‑operation between government, businesses, telcos, banks and digital platforms, and to promote the campaign slogan ‘Stop. Check. Protect’. The centre encouraged people to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #stopcheckprotect and to report scams to Scamwatch to help disrupt criminal networks.
Practical steps recommended by authorities include pausing before sharing money or personal details, verifying organisations through official contact details, searching for independent reviews or complaints, and contacting banks, IDCARE or police quickly if you suspect you have been targeted. Support services such as Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) are available for those who feel overwhelmed after being scammed.
