AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre)

AUSTRAC is Australia's financial intelligence unit (FIU) and the regulator responsible for the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. Financial institutions, remittance providers, crypto-asset exchanges, and other designated service providers must report significant cash transactions, international wire transfers, and suspicious matters to AUSTRAC. This data is analysed to generate financial intelligence that is shared with law enforcement agencies, including the AFP, state police, and the ATO.

In the context of consumer fraud, AUSTRAC plays an important indirect role: when scam proceeds are moved through Australian banks or remittance services, those transactions may trigger suspicious matter reports that generate intelligence leads. AUSTRAC has published specific guidance on the financial patterns associated with investment fraud, romance scams, and business email compromise to help reporting entities recognise and report these flows.

Consumers do not report to AUSTRAC directly. If you suspect a financial institution is being used to launder fraud proceeds, you should report to AUSTRAC via the AUSTRAC contact page (austrac.gov.au), though investigative action is discretionary. Fraud victims should report to the police, ACCC Scamwatch, and their bank. AUSTRAC's consumer-facing publications on emerging financial crime typologies are freely available on its website and serve as useful educational resources.