ABA CEO Simon Birmingham on Romance Scams: ABC Canberra interview transcript

E&OE
Radio Interview
ABC Radio Canberra
9 February 2026.

Topics: Romance scams; Scam Prevention Framework

Emma Bickley (Host): You’re listening to afternoons on ABC Radio Canberra. I’m Emma Bickley, and my guest today is Simon Birmingham. He’s the CEO of the Australian Banking Association, and in the lead up to Valentine’s Day, they’re warning you that romance scams are becoming so sophisticated that you yourself could fall prey to one. So, Simon, what sorts of losses beyond those emotional and horrible stories that we’ve outlined, what financial losses are you seeing?

Simon Birmingham: So the estimates range sort of somewhere in the order of $150 million over the last year. This is serious money that Australians can lose, and it is often because they’ve been convinced to make an investment as a result of a romantic attachment, or they’ve been convinced to help pay for air fares or the like. And if there’s one real tip, just to keep in mind, it is, don’t transfer money or crypto currency or gift cards or any of those sorts of things to someone who haven’t yet met. But actually physically verifying their existence is still the safest way. Take time, as we were discussing before in the interview, don’t rush onto different platforms all of those sorts of things, but taking that care and exercising that course. You know, there’s a lot of work being done to try to prevent scams, banks have invested significantly in new technology, things like Confirmation of Payee, where people will now see when they’re transferring money, it verifies that the name you’re sending to on the account matches the account at the receiving bank’s end.

That’s really important technology that makes sure you’re dealing with legitimate accounts, if it’s within Australia, also if you’re transferring overseas, then you really, really need to be careful. And that’s why in these areas, you just shouldn’t unless you’ve actually met the people verified and know that it’s a genuine relationship. But along with that, technology, in terms of using AI tools to fight back, the banks are investing significantly in that, and we’re working with government on a new scam prevention framework that will capture some digital platforms. We’re really keen to see the government look at how that extends into some of the romance and dating platforms as well, so that people can engage with greater confidence to know that those big global, multinational technology companies will be held to account for playing their part, just as people should expect banks to do what they can to try to keep them safe as well.

Emma Bickley: Yeah, that’s precisely where I was headed with my next question about the accountability of the app. So, pressure is being placed on them. From your experience, have they been cooperative thus far?

Simon Birmingham: I think this is one of those areas where, indeed, some of the credible, long standing dating apps do recognize that regardless of the scam opportunity, to even have people put confidence in them. They need to do more around verifying who is online and undertaking those sorts of checks, and they really are the sorts of things you should be looking for on those types of platforms. But they themselves are fighting a war against the ability to produce fake IDs and other documentation or ways that AI helps those running the scam centres to try to work around these things. So, it’s a challenge on all parts. I mean, we see outrageous behaviour from companies like Meta, who it’s been exposed, are taking billions of dollars in scam advertisements across a whole range of platforms, and that, of course, is appalling conduct, and why we really do welcome the federal government implementing the Scam Prevention Framework in a way that captures those sorts of companies and tries to hold them to account.

And that’s where we can really make the biggest inroads now, ensuring Yes, we, as Australian banks, continue to do our part. Telecommunications companies do their part around text messages and those things, but the big source and lead generating space is the digital platforms, and they’re really where we want to make sure they are held to account, as the Scam Prevention Framework comes online from the first of July this year and over the next couple of years.

Emma Bickley: Simon Birmingham there, he’s the CEO of the Australian Banking Association, talking about AI scams that you need to be aware of this Valentine’s Day.

Ends