Acting quickly can make a big difference if you think you’ve been scammed. Follow these steps to protect your accounts, secure your personal information and get support.
⚠️ Act Fast
- Stop all contact with the scammer. Do not send more money.
- Contact your bank and card provider immediately and ask them to stop any transactions. If you have joint accounts, encourage the other party to also contact the bank and card provider.
- Temporarily lock your debit or credit card through your bank’s app. If you need to pay for something online, simply unlock, make the payment, and then lock again.
- Warn family and friends so they can watch for follow-up attempts.
- Be wary of anyone offering to recover your losses for a fee, urging you to “hang in there,” or asking you to pay taxes, deposits, retainers, or “insurance bonds” to get funds back.
If you’ve paid a scammer in any of these ways:
Contact your bank immediately and request it attempts fund recovery.
Report the scam to the card issuer.
Report it to the app provider.
Report it to the platform you used.
Contact Australia Post or the delivery service to try to intercept.
🛡️ If a scammer has your personal information
- Tell your bank, super fund and any other financial services.
- Report to Police and obtain an event number.
- Call IDCARE 1800 595 160 for a free, tailored recovery plan. Hours: Mon–Fri, 8 am–5 pm.
- Create new, strong passwords and update any reused ones.
- Watch for suspicious calls, texts, emails and social messages. Do not click on suspicious links.
- Monitor your bank accounts for unauthorised activity.
- Contact credit reporting agencies to place a temporary block on fraudulent credit applications.
💻📱 If a scammer has access to your computer or phone
- Update security software, run a virus scan and reset passwords.
- If your phone or phone account was accessed, contact your telco, change pins, block scam calls and consider a new number.
- For expert help, phone the Australian Cyber Security Hotline 1300 292 371 (24/7).
💚 Get support
- Visit Financial Counselling – National Debt Helpline or moneysmart.gov.au for free, confidential help managing your finances.
- For emotional support: Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- Visit Home | Scamwatch. Scamwatch collects scam reports to help warn others.
If you have been tricked into assisting a scammer to transfer funds between accounts, contact your bank immediately.
Banking hardship contact details
| Bank | Number | Website |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ | ANZ Cards (Debit and Credit) 13 22 73 / +61 3 9683 9999 ANZ Internet Banking (Personal Banking) 13 33 50 / +61 3 9683 8833 ANZ Small Business and Business Banking 13 33 50 / +61 3 9683 8833 Business customers using ANZ Transactive 13 70 28 / +61 3 8693 7153 | Report a scam |
| AMP | 13 30 30 or +61 2 8048 8249 | Unauthorised Transactions |
| BankAust | 132 888 | Scams, security and fraud |
| Bankwest | 13 17 19 | How to identify scams |
| Bendigo | For general enquiries call 1300 236 344 (in Australia) or +61 3 5445 0666 (from overseas – standard international call charges apply) | Scams knowledge hub |
| Commbank | Call us on 13 2221, or CommBiz 13 2339 | Report a scam |
| ING | Call us on our dedicated scams line at 1800 052 743 | Security at ING |
| Macquarie | Australian emergency number: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 02 8550 5666 | Security and scams |
| NAB | Within Australia: 13 22 65 From overseas: +61 3 8641 9083 | Report fraud and scams |
| St George | Within Australia: 13 33 30 | Speak with a scam specialist |
| Suncorp Bank | Call us on 13 11 75 | Be alert to common scams |
| Westpac | Call us on 1300 364 294 (or +612 9155 7777 from outside of Australia) | How to Report |
| BOQ | Please call 1300 55 72 72 | Fraud and Scam Assistance |