Stop - Check - Protect - ACCC Scam Watch

 

Scams Awareness Week 2025 ends but we can Stop. Check. Protect. everyday Anyone can be scammed, but together we're fighting back This Scams Awareness Week (25 to 29 August) we joined government, business, community groups, consumer protection groups, educational organisations and individuals to reinforce the 3 simple steps that can help protect Australians: ‘Stop. Check. Protect.’ before clicking, sharing, or paying. You’ve no doubt seen Scams Awareness Week in the media and in the hundreds of social media posts created by many different organisations and individuals, but it’s important that these messages reach beyond this week. Stay protected everyday We can include these memorable steps in our everyday lives to keep us all safe from scams. STOP. Always take a moment before giving your money or personal information to anyone. Scammers will create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Don’t rush to make decisions about money or sharing personal details. CHECK. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you’re really dealing with before taking any action. PROTECT. Act quickly if something feels wrong. The sooner you act, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers. To find out more about how you can stay safe from scams, visit the Scamwatch website. Don’t forget to share your scam stories You can share stories with loved ones and talk about your own experiences. Use social media to spread awareness and point others to trusted resources like the Scamwatch website for information on fighting scams. The more we talk, the less power scammers have. On the Scamwatch website you can watch Julian, Katy, Aurnab and Shankar talk about how scammers manipulated them into giving them money and personal details. Their videos also have captions in Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese. If you’ve been affected by a scam Don't be embarrassed about being scammed. If you have shared financial information or transferred money, contact your bank immediately. If you have given away your personal information, you can call IDCARE for help on 1800 595 160. When you report the scam, the people who read your report understand how you are feeling. You are not alone. Contacting support services can help you understand what happened but also tells authorities about scam activities so they can work on making it harder for scams to succeed. Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch. Who is the National Anti-Scam Centre? The National Anti-Scam Centre is where government and industry work together to protect Australians from scams. We're harnessing shared resources and smarter analytics to identify blind spots, strengthen weak links and use data to react faster, stopping scams before they happen. Our aim is to make Australia a harder target for scammers. For more information about how to avoid or report a scam, visit the Scamwatch website. You have received this email because you have subscribed to receive Scamwatch scam alerts issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. We send these alerts to tell you about new scams and how to avoid them. We don't use links in these emails. Not clicking on links in emails and messages is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from scams. If you have any doubts about an email's source, verify the sender by independent means. Use their official contact details to check the email is legitimate before clicking on links or opening attachments.