In Scams Awareness Week 2026 we’re providing advice about the latest scam warnings and sharing simple tips to help keep your money and personal information safe.
Scammers don’t just target people who are vulnerable. They can target anyone, anywhere, at any time. They don’t care how old you are, where you live, or what you earn.
Scammers use sophisticated tactics as they try to trick people into handing over money or personal information.
In the first half of 2026, South Australians reported losing more than $6 million to scams.
The greatest losses were to:
- investment scams
- takeover scams – where scammers take over a person’s account or identity by impersonating the person
- buying and selling scams.
The most common method of scams contact was email, followed by phone call and text message.
But there are 3 simple steps you can take to spot and avoid scams.
1. STOP
Always take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone.
Scammers will create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly.
What to do
- Say no, hang up, or delete suspicious messages
- Take time to think before responding to unexpected requests
- Don’t let anyone pressure you into immediate action
- Trust your instincts if something feels wrong.
2. CHECK
Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real.
Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you’re really dealing with before taking any action.
What to do
- Contact the organisation directly using phone numbers or email addresses you find on their official website or app
- Research investment opportunities or offers through official sources, Iike the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (external site)
- Get a second opinion from family, friends or professionals.
3. PROTECT
Act quickly if something feels wrong.
The sooner you take action, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.
What to do
- Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve lost money or shared financial details
- Contact IDCARE (external site) if you’ve shared personal information - they can help you create a plan to limit damage
- Report the scam to Scamwatch (external site), or report a cybercrime to ReportCyber (external site) to help protect others
- Change passwords and security details if you think they’ve been compromised
- Monitor your bank statements and credit reports for unusual activity
- Report the scam to the impersonated organisation and platform where the scam is happening
- Being scammed can feel overwhelming. Support is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
About Scams Awareness Week
Scams Awareness Week is Australia’s annual campaign dedicated to helping Australians recognise, avoid and report scams.
Each year, it brings together government, businesses, community and consumer groups, educational organisations and individuals to raise awareness and strengthen our collective defence against scammers.
