Scammed in Australia? How to Report It and What to Do Next
Australians lose billions to scams every year, and the first 24 hours matter more than anything that follows. This is the order to work through, and what each step can realistically achieve.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Step 1: Call your bank now
Every major Australian bank has a 24/7 fraud line. Tell them the payment was made under deception, ask for an immediate recall or trace, and ask them to place a hold on any further transactions to the same payee. Get a reference number and the name of the person you spoke to.
If money is still sitting in the receiving account, speed is the single biggest factor in whether it comes back.
Step 2: Secure your accounts
- Change passwords for banking, email and any wallet or exchange account
- Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere
- Remove any remote-access software the scammer had you install
- Check for new payees, forwarding rules on your email, and changed contact details
Step 3: Report officially
Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre, is the national scam reporting point. ReportCyber is the police-linked route for cybercrime and produces a report number your bank may ask for. ASIC should hear about anything sold as an investment, and IDCARE can help if your identity documents were exposed.
Step 4: Complain, then escalate to AFCA
If the bank declines to reimburse, put a formal complaint in writing setting out the red flags it should have caught: a brand-new payee receiving a large sum, payments out of character for your account, several transfers in quick succession, or a warning that was generic rather than tailored to the fraud you were facing.
If the response does not satisfy you, lodge with AFCA. It is free, independent, and decisions accepted by you are binding on the firm.
When a legal claim recovers more
Where an Australian professional contributed to the loss — a lawyer, accountant, financial adviser or valuer whose advice or conduct fell below a competent standard — a negligence claim can recover far more than a reimbursement scheme. Limitation periods are commonly six years, but they vary by state and territory, so early advice matters.
Common questions
Who do I report a scam to in Australia?
Your bank first, immediately. Then Scamwatch (run by the National Anti-Scam Centre), ReportCyber for cybercrime, and ASIC where an investment or financial product was involved. If your bank refuses to help, the free dispute route is AFCA.
Will my Australian bank refund a scam payment?
It depends on the circumstances and the bank's obligations under the industry scam-safe commitments and its own duties to you. Banks are expected to detect unusual payments, warn effectively and act fast on reports. Where they failed to, a complaint to the bank and then AFCA is the route — and it costs you nothing.
What is AFCA and how long do I have?
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority resolves disputes with banks, insurers and financial firms for free. You generally need to complain to the firm first and give it up to 30 days, then lodge with AFCA — normally within two years of the firm's final response.
Can I still claim if I sent crypto?
Possibly. On-chain funds are hard to retrieve, but the Australian bank or exchange that processed the payment is a regulated party with obligations. That is usually where a realistic claim sits.
Free, no-obligation case assessment
Tell us what happened and we will tell you honestly whether your loss is realistically recoverable. If it is not, we say so — there is no charge and no obligation to proceed.
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