Australia Scam Statistics
Reported scam losses in Australia, drawn from the ACCC National Anti-Scam Centre's Targeting Scams annual report.
Last reviewed: 7 July 2026
Australia's primary official source for scam data is the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Its annual Targeting Scams report combines data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX), IDCARE, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Because the report aggregates multiple reporting channels, its total is broader than Scamwatch alone. However, as with all fraud statistics globally, reported figures represent only a fraction of actual losses — many victims do not report at all.
Key figures
$2.18 billion in 2025 — an increase of 7.8% on 2024
Total combined reported scam losses in Australia
Source: ACCC / National Anti-Scam Centre Targeting Scams Report 2025 (2025)
481,523 scam reports in 2025 — a decrease of 2.3% on 2024
Total scam reports across reporting agencies
Source: ACCC / National Anti-Scam Centre Targeting Scams Report 2025 (2025)
$837.7 million in 2025 — the highest-loss category
Reported losses to investment scams
Source: ACCC / National Anti-Scam Centre Targeting Scams Report 2025 (2025)
$139.9 million in 2025
Reported romance scam losses
Source: ACCC / National Anti-Scam Centre Targeting Scams Report 2025 (2025)
$166.8 million in 2025
Reported payment redirection scam losses
Source: ACCC / National Anti-Scam Centre Targeting Scams Report 2025 (2025)
$69.9 million in 2025
Reported remote access scam losses
Source: ACCC / National Anti-Scam Centre Targeting Scams Report 2025 (2025)
274,577 reports involved financial losses totalling $2.18 billion in 2025
Scam reports involving a financial loss (Australia)
Source: ACCC — Continued action critical to combat fraud as annual scam losses exceed $2 billion (2025)
Phishing scams, with 65,361 reports in 2025
Most reported scam type to Scamwatch (Australia)
Source: ACCC — Continued action critical to combat fraud as annual scam losses exceed $2 billion (2025)
Key takeaways
- Australians reported losing $2.18 billion to scams in 2025 — a 7.8% increase on the previous year — according to the ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre.
- Investment scams were the costliest category, accounting for $837.7 million of reported losses.
- Total scam reports fell 2.3% to 481,523 even as dollar losses rose — fewer reports, but higher-value scams getting through.
- Only 274,577 of those reports involved a financial loss, and the NASC cautions that under-reporting means true losses are higher.
Frequently asked questions
Did Australian scam losses rise or fall in 2025?
They rose. The ACCC's National Anti-Scam Centre recorded $2.18 billion in combined reported losses in 2025, a 7.8% increase on the previous year — even though the total number of scam reports fell 2.3% to 481,523. Fewer people reported scams, but the dollar losses per successful scam grew. The NASC cautions that reported figures still understate true losses.
Is the $2.18 billion figure just from Scamwatch?
No. The NASC Targeting Scams Report combines data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the AFCX, IDCARE, and ASIC. Using Scamwatch alone would give a lower figure. Always check which reporting channels are included when comparing years.
Why do scam figures vary so much between sources and years?
Differences in which agencies contribute data, changes in reporting awareness, and new scam types all affect year-on-year comparability. The NASC notes that even a combined $2 billion figure is likely a significant undercount of total losses.