Scams stories

Australians are urged to boost online security as AI-driven scams surge ahead of Christmas, with experts promoting multi-factor authentication and hardware keys.

Bitdefender reports a 63% rise in malicious Halloween spam, with scams posing as festive giveaways and retail offers to steal data or spread malware.

Google and Singapore's Cyber Security Agency renew partnership to enhance national cybersecurity with AI tools and public-private training initiatives.

Canada unveils its first National Anti-Fraud Strategy and a Financial Crimes Agency to tackle rising fraud losses, which hit CAD $643 million in 2024.

Many young UK shoppers risk scams by using AI and social media for festive gifts, despite widespread concerns over online holiday shopping risks.

Global scam attempts have surged 65% over the past year, with smishing rising tenfold as banks worldwide battle increasing fraud risks.

A New Zealand AI tool, CheckMyBuilder, helps homeowners and businesses spot risks with builders for NZD $49, using public records to flag issues before contracts.

A WhatsApp scam called 'Vote for my child' is spreading across Europe, tricking users into sharing codes and demanding money, warns Bitdefender.

RCS offers Australian businesses a secure, interactive way to boost customer engagement and trust, tackling data privacy concerns amid rising scams.

ANZ warns Australian small businesses to stay vigilant as scams cause AUD $84 million losses amid rising cybercrime threats in 2024.

US money laundering cases rose 168% in H1 2025, with scams costing Americans USD $6.5 billion amid rising AI-driven fraud and stablecoin use.

Norton has enhanced its Small Business service with Dark Web and Social Media Monitoring to help firms counter rising cyber threats in 2025.

The Regional Connectivity Symposium in NSW highlights digital inclusion, unveiling CASPER AI to boost online safety and connectivity in regional communities.

Australians lost over AUD $119 million to scams in early 2025, highlighting the urgent need for collective action from individuals, businesses and government.

Australians lost AUD $175 million to over 108,000 scams in H1 2025, as cyber threats rise amid rapid growth in digital payments and eCommerce.

Nearly 80% of Australians have faced scam communications recently, yet 70% lack knowledge on how to respond safely, reveals new Optus research.

Cybercriminals exploit AI website builder Lovable to swiftly create phishing and scam sites, lowering barriers for digital crime, warns cybersecurity firm Proofpoint.

Task scams have cost jobseekers millions, with Trend Micro warning of a surge in frauds using fake jobs to trick victims into losing thousands of dollars.

Small business tax refunds surged by 75% in Q1 2024, with average returns reaching AUD $5,000, reveals CommBank data on Australian financial year start.

A major Australian financial institution lost A$23m from unauthorised transactions, prompting a nationwide push to prioritise trust and fraud prevention in 2024.