Australians reported nearly $260 million in losses to scams in the first nine months of 2025, with the National Anti-Scam Centre warning that online shopping scams are on the rise.
Between January and September 2025, the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch service received 159,319 scam reports with financial losses of $259.5 million. This represents a 16 per cent increase in losses and a 20 per cent decrease in reports compared to the same period last year.
As Australians engage with Black Friday sales, shoppers are urged to stay alert for scams disguised as genuine deals. Shopping scams were the most reported scam type involving financial loss so far this year, with 9,628 of the total 19,662 reports received resulting in $8.6 million in losses. This was an increase of 19 per cent in reported losses from the same period in 2024.
“Scammers love Black Friday sales too because they know shoppers are looking for bargains and they rely on creating urgency and pressure that can come with a busy shopping period,” ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
“We remind consumers to take their time, check the legitimacy of websites and its offers, and be cautious about sharing personal or financial information online. A few simple checks before making a purchase can make all the difference in avoiding a scam and keeping your money safe.”
Online content, such as fake websites, advertisements, social media, and mobile apps, were the most common method used by scammers for initial contact, resulting in $122 million in losses, or 47 per cent of overall scam losses.
Some shopping scams involve the compromise of social media accounts to reach unsuspecting victims. Compromised social media accounts are increasingly used by scammers to target victims’ personal networks, particularly on Facebook and Instagram.
After gaining access, scammers impersonate the account holder to promote scams such as fake ticket sales, ‘fire sales’, grant offers, and investment schemes.
They further compromise friends’ accounts by requesting one-time codes under false pretences, enabling a chain of account takeovers.
“We continue to urge Australians to verify who they are communicating with online, as scammers leverage trusted relationships and social platforms to manipulate people into handing over money and personal information,” Lowe said.
“You should be aware that online friend accounts can be compromised, so avoid clicking on any links and always do your own checks before paying money. A good way to check is to contact them through another means, such as by phone or text message. This can also alert your friend so they can take prompt action to recover their account.”
The National Anti-Scam Centre is also seeing more people report financial loss among vulnerable communities; with a 12 per cent rise for people with a disability, 35 per cent for those who speak English as a second language, and 50 per cent for First Nations people.
Scamwatch website recently published resources for people to provide support to loved ones who may be targeted by scammers, including red flag signs, conversation starters and the manipulation tactics deployed by scammers.
“We strongly encourage people to check in with their loved ones and start the conversation about scams. Scammers are criminals who target anyone,” Ms Lowe said.
“Starting an honest conversation about scams can take away the fear and embarrassment that often stop people from speaking up. Listening with compassion and without judgement helps them feel supported and understood.”
“We’re grateful to everyone who reports scams to Scamwatch, even if they haven’t lost money. Each report helps us build a clearer picture of scam activity and strengthens our work with other organisations to disrupt these criminal networks.”
Other scam trends
- Investment scams were the cause of the highest overall reported losses in the first nine months of 2025, totalling $128.4 million. However, investment scams was one of the few scam categories where the losses showed a decrease from the same period in 2024 (down from $135 million).
- There was a 50 per cent decrease in reports about rebate scams, dropping from 3,236 reports in 2024 to 1,628 reports in 2025.
- There were 11,602 reports of false billing scams in 2025 compared to 24,139 in 2024, which was a 52 per cent decrease. In 2025, there were $19.4 million in reported losses to false billing scams compared to $11.3 million in 2024.
- There was also a 47 per cent drop in reports about remote access scams from 2024 to 2025. Losses to these scams also decreased by 30 per cent; down from $5.9 million in 2024 to $4.2 million in the same period in 2025. Remote access scams disproportionately impact older Australians.
- There were 52,753 reports of phishing scams made to Scamwatch in 2025, down from 80,119 in 2024. This is a decrease of 34 percent.
