AUSTRAC warns of scammers impersonating agency and staff

AUSTRAC is warning the public to remain vigilant after discovering cases where scammers impersonated the agency and its staff in an attempt to steal money and sensitive information.

AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said scammers are using emails, phone calls and messages that appear legitimate to pressure victims into making urgent payments or disclosing personal details.

“AUSTRAC does not contact members of the public unexpectedly demanding payment,” Mr Thomas said.

“We take payment from reporting businesses for things like levies and infringement notices but we are never going to ask you to pay in virtual or cryptocurrencies or through social media apps, like WhatsApp or Telegram.”

AUSTRAC-regulated businesses may receive valid invoices from AUSTRAC but any unexpected request for money, personal information or urgent action claiming to be from AUSTRAC should be treated with caution and verified through official AUSTRAC channels before any payment is made.

“Impersonation scams are getting more and more convincing and they are designed to exploit trust in government agencies.”

As AUSTRAC's role in protecting Australia from financial crimes becomes more visible, scammers see an opportunity to use the agency's name, authority and reputation to deceive the public.

“Our public profile has grown and with it an uptick in scammers using our name and impersonating our staff to try and trick people into handing over money or sensitive information.

“These scams look official and often come with a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly - that's why it's important to know what legitimate contact from AUSTRAC actually looks like.

"Scammers don’t just steal your money; they steal your trust. They rely on fear and urgency to override your instincts so taking a moment to pause and verify contact can prevent significant financial loss.

“If you receive a message claiming to be from AUSTRAC and something doesn’t feel right, stop, don’t click any links and contact us using the contact details on our website.”

AUSTRAC works closely with law enforcement, regulators and industry partners to identify and disrupt scams, but community awareness remains a critical line of defence.

An AUSTRAC staff member will never ask you to make an additional payment to engage with AUSTRAC, whether that relates to a complaint you've made, or a matter AUSTRAC is addressing with you.

In almost all cases, AUSTRAC will contact you before taking any action and explain what is happening.

If you need to make a payment to AUSTRAC, we will notify you in writing and give you time to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.