If you have been targeted by a scam or you suspect fraud, acting quickly gives you the best chance of limiting the damage. The right place to report depends on what happened: a scam attempt with no loss goes to a different agency than a case where money or personal information was actually taken. This guide walks you through each step in plain order, so you know exactly who to call first and what to have ready.
Quick Answer: Where Do You Report Fraud?
Start with your bank if money is at risk, then report to the agency that matches what happened. Scam attempts and suspicious contact go to Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre. Cybercrime, such as hacked accounts, stolen personal information or malware, goes to ReportCyber, run by the Australian Cyber Security Centre. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.
Step 1: Protect Your Money First
Before you fill in any form, stop further losses. Call your bank or card provider straight away and tell them you may have been scammed. They can freeze cards, block transactions and watch for unusual activity on your accounts. Do this even if you are not sure yet — banks would rather hear from you early than after more money has left your account. If you paid by credit card, ask about a chargeback. If you sent cryptocurrency, be aware that those transfers are very hard to reverse, but still report it so the wallet addresses can be flagged.
Next, change the passwords on any accounts that may have been exposed, starting with your email account, since email is often the key to resetting everything else. Turn on two-factor authentication wherever it is offered.
Step 2: Gather Your Evidence
Reports are much stronger when they include details. Before you start a form, collect:
- Screenshots of messages, emails, websites or social media profiles involved
- Phone numbers, email addresses, usernames and website addresses used by the scammer
- Dates and times of contact, and the amounts and payment methods used
- Bank statements or receipts showing the transactions
- Any reference numbers from your bank
Do not delete messages or emails — investigators may need the originals. Save copies somewhere safe, and note down what happened in your own words while it is fresh.
Step 3: Report to the Right Agency
Scamwatch — for scams and suspicious contact. If you received a scam call, text, email or ad but did not lose money or share personal details, report it to Scamwatch through its online form. Your report helps the National Anti-Scam Centre warn others and have scam websites, ads and phone numbers taken down.
ReportCyber — for cybercrime and financial loss. If money or personal information was stolen, an account was hacked or a device was infected with malware, report it through ReportCyber on the Australian Cyber Security Centre website. Reports submitted there are referred to the relevant police force for assessment. You cannot upload attachments to a ReportCyber report, so include as much written detail as you can.
Police — for theft, threats or significant loss. For serious financial loss, threats or safety concerns, contact your local police. The Police Assistance Line on 131 444 handles non-urgent matters, and you can also attend a local police station in person. In an emergency, always call 000.
Other agencies for specific cases. Tax scams go to the Australian Taxation Office, which can be contacted on 1800 008 540 to check suspicious contact claiming to be from the ATO. Unwanted commercial spam can be forwarded to the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Severe online abuse, such as cyberbullying or images shared without consent, can be reported to the eSafety Commissioner.
Step 4: Get Help With Identity Theft
If your personal information was exposed — your name, date of birth, licence, passport or Medicare details, for example — contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160. It is a free national support service for victims of identity crime and cyber incidents, and its team will build a tailored response plan with you, including which organisations to notify and what to watch for. Ask the organisations that hold your identity documents about placing extra security on your records, and consider requesting a credit ban with credit reporting agencies if your details could be used to open accounts in your name.
How to Spot Fraud Before It Costs You
Most scams share a few warning signs. Be suspicious of any message that creates urgency — a threat that an account will close, a parcel will be returned or a fine will grow if you do not act now. Be wary of requests for unusual payment methods, such as gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, because legitimate organisations almost never ask for these. Check the sender carefully: scammers impersonate banks, government agencies, delivery companies and well-known brands, often with email addresses or phone numbers that look almost right. If a deal looks too good to be true, or a stranger online asks you to move money or invest, pause and verify through a number you find yourself, not one supplied in the suspicious message.
What Happens After You Report?
Be honest with yourself about what reporting can and cannot do. A report helps authorities track scam networks, warn the public and shut down scam infrastructure, and it creates an official record you may need for your bank or insurer. But recovery of lost money is not guaranteed, and investigations can be slow, especially when scammers operate overseas. That is why the first steps — contacting your bank and securing your accounts — matter more than anything else. Keep copies of every report and reference number, follow up with your bank about disputed transactions, and stay alert for follow-up scams: fraudsters sometimes contact victims again, pretending to offer recovery help for a fee. No genuine agency charges you to recover stolen money.
Key Contacts at a Glance
- Your bank or card provider — call immediately if money is at risk
- Scamwatch — report scams and suspicious contact online
- ReportCyber — report cybercrime and financial loss online
- Australian Cyber Security Hotline — 1300 292 371
- Police Assistance Line — 131 444 (non-urgent); 000 in an emergency
- IDCARE — 1800 595 160 for identity theft support
- ATO scam line — 1800 008 540
Fraud is common, and falling for a well-crafted scam is nothing to be embarrassed about. Reporting it quickly protects your money, helps protect others, and gives authorities the information they need to act.
