What to do if you get a phone call, text message or email that you're not sure is genuine.
If you're a victim of a scam
- Contact your bank immediately.
- Seek support from IDCARE.
- Report the scam to Scamwatch. Scamwatch uses reports about scams to help warn others and to take action to stop scams.
- Find out where to get help through Scamwatch. These are steps you can take immediately to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.
Understanding fraud and scams
Be wary of emails, phone calls and text messages claiming to be from AUSTRAC.
Scams attempt trick you into paying money or giving out your personal information.
Scammers often pretend to be from trusted organisations like AUSTRAC. To achieve this, scammers will often seek to appear credible by using emails, documents (such as contracts or AML/CTF certificates) or websites that look official with AUSTRAC logos and branding.
Identify a scam
Scammers are constantly looking for new ways to trick people.
AUSTRAC will only contact you by email or phone.
There are certain things AUSTRAC will never do, such as demanding payment or your personal details via email or over the phone.
You should be suspicious of a call, email or message that:
- asks you to pay a fee or tax to authorise release of funds to your bank account
- asks you to click on a link in an unsolicited text
- asks you for documentation regarding imported goods
- tells you we have intercepted your package at the border
- tells you that you’ve won a lottery
- threatens you with arrest if you don’t pay a penalty
- asks you to pay penalty fees by money transfer
- tells you we are freezing accounts or transactions
- says you can avoid prosecution by paying penalties
- tells you not to speak to anyone but them.
If the phone call, email or message does any of these things, you can be sure it hasn’t come from us.
If you want to check whether a call is legitimate, contact AUSTRAC.
Common types of scams
Below are common types of scams we see criminals attempt using AUSTRAC's name:
- Giveaway travel, prizes and lottery scams: Scammers may attempt to trick you into giving them money or personal details to get a prize from a lottery, sweepstake or competition.
- Impersonation scams: Scammers may send emails to reporting entities and members of the public pretending to be from AUSTRAC and seeking payment of fines, taxes or other financial transfers.
- Unexpected money or inheritance scams: Scammers may contact you pretending to be an AUSTRAC or legal representative of a deceased relative telling you that you’re entitled to money or valuable assets, which you can only receive after making an upfront payment.
For more information about other types of scams, visit Scamwatch.
Report a scam
If you think a phone call, SMS, voicemail, email or interaction on social media claiming to be from AUSTRAC is not genuine, do not engage with it.
You should report the incident to Scamwatch or your local police.
For online or email scams, report it to the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
This guidance sets out how we interpret certain Australian legislation, along with associated Rules and regulations. Australian courts are ultimately responsible for interpreting these laws and determining if any provisions of these laws are contravened.
The examples and scenarios in this guidance are meant to help explain our interpretation of these laws. They’re not exhaustive or meant to cover every possible scenario.
This guidance provides general information and isn't a substitute for legal advice. This guidance avoids legal language wherever possible and it might include generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.