Scams continue to pose a threat to Australians in 2025. While scam awareness in Australia is improving – the ACCC reported a 25% drop in total scam losses between 2023 and 2024 – losses still amounted to $2.03 billion per year.
Despite smaller losses, scams continue to get more and more advanced. That means it’s important to take extra precautions to protect yourself from fraudulent activity, and ensure your loved ones know what to do, too. Here are 10 tips for protecting yourself and your family from scams in 2025.
1. Be extra diligent with any contact from people you don’t know
Whether you’ve received an email about a parcel delivery or a text message about concert tickets, be extremely diligent when dealing with people you don’t know. While companies and individuals often need to contact you for legitimate reasons, cold outreach can be a first point of contact for scammers. Always verify where a text, email or phone call has come from before acting on its contents.
2. Be scam smart at work
Impersonation scams continue to get more and more advanced. In fact, businesses and organisations are often the targets. When a company server is hacked, fraudulent emails may be sent directly from legitimate email addresses of people within the company, often instructing people to execute financial transactions immediately. If you receive any digital communication from anyone regarding transferring money or making payments urgently, verify the request with someone before taking any other action.
3. Trust your instincts
Trusting your instincts is an important part of staying safe from scams. If someone has offered you something unusual or asked for something unusual, even if they claim to be someone you know, think before you act.
Anyone offering products with large discounts, tickets to sold out shows, impressive investment returns, or any requests for money, can all be strong indicators that something isn’t right.
4. Don’t click links in text messages or emails
Links in text messages and emails are a popular way for scammers to capture your personal information. Often, they do this by sending a concerning message prompting urgent action to get you to click without thinking. Be extra cautious with links and don’t click anything without investigating first. Contact the sender directly on a number you trust, to be sure.
Please take a screenshot of suspicious communications and forward it to phishing@bendigoadelaide.com.au or 0429 557 997. Then, delete the SMS text message or email.
5. Verify the identities of people who contact you
Scammers are getting smarter and smarter when it comes to convincing you that you’re speaking with someone you trust, especially with the rising use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). They may use email addresses that look almost identical to the real address, or even hijack real accounts to impersonate someone else. They may even replicate the language, image or voice of a loved one to appear more legitimate. If someone you know contacts you asking for money, try and speak to them directly over the phone on a number you trust to confirm it’s a legitimate request.
It’s important to discuss impersonation risks with family members, so your loved ones can stay safe. Older or less connected Australians are often targeted by scammers, so make sure your loved ones are informed.
6. Research companies you’re buying from extensively
When shopping online, be cautious of websites you’re unfamiliar with. Look for websites that start with https and are accompanied by a padlock symbol straight away. Unsecured connection warnings can be a sign something isn’t right. But, they’re not always 100% accurate, so do additional research before handing over your payment details. Read reviews online, look for an ‘about’ page, and check if they have a registered address or contact information.
A lot of websites that promote investment scams won’t have an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). The websites for legitimate financial institutions or banks will always have the AFSL listed on the website (typically on the very bottom of the page). You can check to see if the AFSL on the website matches shows if they are registered or licensed with ASIC to perform a service ASIC Professional Registers Search (https://service.asic.gov.au/search/)
7. Beware of urgency when buying things online
Lots of scams rely on urgency to target victims. Scammers often use elaborate stories to convince you to make payment quickly, often without seeing the item you’re buying. They may even send fake or AI generated images of products that don’t exist. Never make payments to people who are rushing you, particularly if anything seems unusual about the transaction.
8. Never respond to instructions to install software on your computer
Remote access scammers may try to convince you to install software on your device. This is so they can control your devices from a remote location, and access sensitive information that could be used to access accounts in your name. Never install software under the instruction of someone you don’t know or trust.
9. Never give out personal information to people who call you
Scammers will often impersonate your bank or a government organisation and request personal information over the phone. This can then be used to access accounts and impersonate your identity. Never give out information on incoming phone calls. Hang up and contact the bank or organisation on a number you trust.
10. Never give out financial information or make payments and transfers on social media
Cryptocurrency and investment scammers target victims on social media by impersonating people you know or follow. If you’ve received a social media message from someone you know or a public figure you admire about an investment or business opportunity, don’t hand over any personal information or payments. It’s highly likely to be a scam.
Things to remember
Scammers are impersonating Bendigo Bank in an attempt to access customer personal information and accounts. Remember these key points to stay safe:
- Bendigo Bank will never request personal information such as a pin or password or ask you to login to online services from an email or SMS.
- Never provide your 6-digit e-banking security code to anyone over the phone or online.
- Bendigo Bank will never ask you to click on a link in an SMS text message to login to e-banking or request remote access to your PC or device.
Always remember to Stop, Think and Protect.
- Stop – before you make a quick decision, stop. Could this be a scam? Scammers benefit from rushed decision making.
- Think – what are the red flags here? How can I verify this is legitimate?
- Protect – act quickly if something feels wrong.
What to do if you think you’ve been scammed
If you have received a SMS text message or email and have clicked on the link and entered your e-banking details, please contact your local branch or call 1300 236 344 immediately.
For the latest scam alerts and information to keep yourself and your family safe online, visit https://www.bendigobank.com.au/security/scams/alerts/
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