Australian Scam Losses Rise by 28% in 2025

Despite a decline in the number of reported fraud cases, Australians faced a significant increase in financial loss due to online scams, which surged by 28% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The National Anti-Scam Center has indicated that between January and April 2025, victims collectively lost over AU$119 million to various scam tactics.

The statistics reveal a paradox: 72,230 scams were reported, marking a nearly 25% reduction in overall reporting, while scammers have been extracting higher sums from victims. Investment scams accounted for a staggering AU$59 million, but a particularly notable spike was seen in phishing attacks, which resulted in AU$13.7 million in losses, up from AU$4.6 million just a year prior.

Catriona Lowe, deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, emphasized the broad demographic affected by these scams, which often initiate from unsolicited contact via social media and other digital avenues. She urged vigilance, highlighting the increasing financial impact and the rising number of individuals targeted.

Additionally, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has dismantled over 7,300 phishing and investment scam websites in recent months. These platforms often employed deceptive tactics such as fabricated articles and deepfake videos to appear credible; however, the impact of these takedowns has been minimal as new scams continue to emerge rapidly.

The ASIC likened the behavior of scammers to that of “multi-headed hydras,” suggesting that each time authorities suppress these schemes, new ones arise almost immediately, perpetuating the cycle of fraud. The National Anti-Scam Center reported almost a 50% increase in the number of individuals reporting financial loss from scams initiated on social media, with total losses hitting AU$23.4 million this year, despite reports of phone scams decreasing by 11%.

This serves as a critical reminder that both social media and traditional phone contacts remain viable channels for malicious actors targeting citizens. The losses from phone-related scams exceeded AU$25 million, underscoring the persistent nature of these threats.

In response to the growing crisis, government agencies are eager to forge partnerships with financial institutions, digital platforms, and telecommunications providers. This collaborative approach aims to facilitate quicker responses to online scams and disrupt ongoing criminal operations.

Lowe noted that combining disparate data points can create powerful intelligence, enabling more effective interventions. By sharing critical information with the National Anti-Scam Center, stakeholders can connect dots that individually may seem insignificant, thus enhancing the overall response to fraud.