Scammers are impersonating us and our staff to trick people into handing over money, personal information and sensitive business information.
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way they target individuals and businesses. We’re warning the community to stay alert after identifying cases where scammers used phone calls, emails and messages that appear to come from AUSTRAC or our staff.
These scams often rely on trust and urgency. Scammers may use real staff names, job titles, our logo and publicly available information to appear legitimate. They may offer to recover lost funds, speed up a process or help resolve a complaint.
The following examples are based on scams reported to us:
Example 1: the ‘investigator contact’ scam
In a recent case, the scammer reached out as a known contact following a consumer complaint about lost funds. They began with a normal conversation to build trust, then claimed to have access to an ‘AUSTRAC investigator’.
The scammer used a real staff member’s name and a fake LinkedIn-style profile. The scammer then asked the victim to move the conversation to WhatsApp and promised to help recover their funds quickly.
This is a common tactic used by scammers. By creating a sense of trust and urgency, they seek to move conversations onto private channels where they can request personal information or money.
We do not recover lost investment funds on behalf of consumers, and we will not ask you to communicate through messaging apps such as WhatsApp to resolve a matter.
Example 2: the ‘helpful contact’ scam
Scammers have also impersonated senior staff, including our CEO.
In a recent case, the scammer reached out to a member of the public pretending to put the person in touch with our General Counsel. The scammer took publicly available information to make the message appear credible.
Watch for the warning signs
Be cautious if someone claiming to be from AUSTRAC:
- contacts you unexpectedly
- asks you to act urgently
- requests money or personal information
- offers to recover lost funds
- asks you to continue the conversation on WhatsApp, Telegram or another messaging app.
What we won't do
We won’t contact you to demand payment urgently or without prior notice. We will never ask you to pay us using cryptocurrency or arrange payment through a messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram.
When we may request payment
We only request payments in limited circumstances. These include:
- the industry contribution levy, which is issued by email attachment
- an infringement notice, which may be issued by email attachment or post by AUSTRAC
- an infringement notice issued in person by a police officer or Australian Border Force officer.
What to do if you're unsure
If you receive a message claiming to be from AUSTRAC and something doesn't feel right:
- stop and take a moment to assess the request
- don't click links or open attachments
- don't provide personal or financial information
- don't make any payments
- contact us using the details on our website to verify the request.
Stay scam aware
Impersonation scams are designed to look convincing. Taking the time to pause, verify the request and use official communication channels can help protect yourself, your business and your customers from fraud.
Learn more scams and how to look for them on our website.