Australian regulators are warning that scam activity is likely to increase over the Christmas and New Year period, with potential consequences for insurers, intermediaries, and policyholders as digital fraud and identity crime continue to be linked to financial losses.
The National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) – operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – is urging consumers to take extra care when shopping, gifting, travelling, or gambling over the festive season, as scammers seek to exploit higher transaction volumes and time pressures. “We strongly encourage people to stop, check, and protect before paying for things or providing personal information. Scammers know that people are busy, distracted, and spending more money at this time of year. They use messages that look routine or urgent because they know people are trying to stay organised,” said ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe.
From January to October 2025, Scamwatch – the NASC’s reporting service – received:
Over that period, more people reported losing money to shopping scams than to any other scam category, with $9.4 million in shopping scam losses.
While most scams still reach victims through digital channels, regulators are also observing the continued use of hard-copy approaches. Scamwatch has received reports of fake scratch-off cards sent via registered post, often presented as travel offers, instant prizes, or low-cost “wins” linked to holiday packages. Recipients are typically asked to pay fees or charges before they can claim an alleged prize.
In parallel, parcel delivery and road toll scams are expected to be more common as Australians send gifts and travel interstate over summer. Common methods include text messages and emails about missed deliveries, unpaid charges, or overdue tolls, which direct recipients to imitation websites designed to capture card details or account credentials. The NASC is advising consumers to access toll and courier services by typing official web addresses or using verified apps, rather than clicking on links in unsolicited messages, and to check parcel tracking and toll balances only through trusted channels.
Online gambling scams, sometimes referred to by regulators as “scambling,” are another area of concern. These schemes rely on unlicensed gambling websites and mobile apps that mimic legitimate services, accept deposits or transfers, but then refuse to pay out winnings. In some cases, affected individuals may also be exposed to potential money laundering activity.
Between January and October 2025, reported losses to online gambling scams totalled about $2 million. Over the same period, Scamwatch recorded:
Regulators are reminding consumers that licensed interactive gambling providers must appear on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) register. Services that do not appear on that register are operating unlawfully in Australia.
Beyond the festive period, regulators are pointing to a broader increase in scam losses in 2025, with online content and major retail events such as Black Friday playing a significant role in how victims are first contacted. From January to September 2025, Scamwatch received 159,319 scam reports with reported losses of $259.5 million. Compared with the same period in 2024, that figure represents a 16% increase in financial losses and a 20% decline in the number of reports, suggesting higher average losses per case.
Shopping scams were the most frequently reported scam type involving financial loss in that nine‑month window. There were 19,662 shopping scam reports in total, and 9,628 of those involved losses amounting to $8.6 million, a 19% increase on the prior year. Products most often associated with shopping scam losses included vehicles, shipping containers, concert and sporting tickets, pets, and clothing.
Digital content – including fake websites, online advertisements, social media posts, and mobile applications – was the leading method of initial contact, accounting for about $122 million in losses, or 47% of all reported scam losses. “Scammers love Black Friday sales too because they know shoppers are looking for bargains and they rely on creating urgency and pressure that can come with a busy shopping period. We remind consumers to take their time, check the legitimacy of websites and its offers, and be cautious about sharing personal or financial information online,” Lowe said.
A growing share of scams now begin with the compromise of social media accounts, particularly on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Once an account has been taken over, scammers impersonate the account holder to promote fake ticket sales, “fire sales,” grant offers, or investment opportunities, and may request one-time verification codes to gain access to other accounts linked to the victim’s network. “We continue to urge Australians to verify who they are communicating with online, as scammers leverage trusted relationships and social platforms to manipulate people into handing over money and personal information,” Lowe said. She suggested contacting friends or relatives via another method, such as phone or text message, to confirm unexpected requests or offers.
Regulators also report an increase in reported financial loss among several vulnerable groups, including people with disability, people who speak English as a second language and First Nations communities. While some categories – such as rebate scams, remote access scams, and phishing – have recorded fewer reports compared with 2024, other areas have intensified. False billing scams, for example, generated 11,602 reports and $19.4 million in reported losses in 2025, compared with 24,139 reports and $11.3 million in reported losses in 2024.
For insurers, brokers, and underwriting agencies, the latest Scamwatch data points to increased exposure to claims connected with identity theft, unauthorised transactions, and cyber‑enabled fraud, as well as the need to clarify coverage and exclusions for financial loss arising from scams. The patterns also highlight opportunities for targeted client communication around digital hygiene and verification practices.
The NASC sets out a “Stop. Check. Protect.” framework for public guidance. The approach encourages people to pause before acting on payment or information requests, confirm the identity and legitimacy of organisations via official channels, and act quickly if they suspect a scam by contacting their bank, reporting to Scamwatch and police, changing passwords, and monitoring financial accounts. “We ask people to please share scam prevention information and warnings with friends and family. As scammers ramp up their efforts over the holiday season, we also encourage people to report to Scamwatch. Every report, no matter how small, helps us build our intelligence to disrupt criminal networks, track scam activity, and protect the community,” Lowe said.
