March 2025 Scam Trends in Australia

Scams continue to evolve, targeting Australians with increasing sophistication and creativity. March 2025 revealed a concerning picture of the financial and emotional toll scams are taking across the nation. By understanding these trends, we can better protect ourselves, our families, and our businesses from falling victim.

This blog breaks down the critical data from March 2025, highlighting scam types, financial impacts, regional trends, and practical steps to prevent scams.

📊 Total Losses and Reports

The numbers from March reveal the widespread impact of scams, as both financial losses and reported incidents remained significant.

• Total Reported Losses: $27,058,641

• Total Scams Reported: 19,225

🧠 Scam Types

Scammers often tailor their tactics to exploit specific vulnerabilities, leading to a variety of methods used to deceive victims in March 2025.

💸 Top 5 Scam Types by Total Amount Lost

1. Investment Scams – $13.26 million

   Once again topping the list, investment scams accounted for nearly half of March's losses. These schemes typically involve scammers promoting high-return opportunities via fake financial advisers, cryptocurrency platforms, or fraudulent investment firms. Victims are often pressured to act quickly, only to see their money vanish.

2. Phishing – $2.85 million

   Phishing scams remained highly lucrative for fraudsters, using fraudulent emails, texts, and websites to steal personal information such as banking details, passwords, and identity credentials.

3. Jobs and Employment Scams – $2.07 million

   Fraudsters preyed on jobseekers by offering appealing roles or work-from-home opportunities. Victims were often tricked into paying upfront fees for fake training, equipment, or security checks.

4. False Billing – $1.60 million

   Businesses and individuals faced targeted scams involving bogus invoices or payment requests. Many fraudsters found success through lack of verification in busy environments.

5. Threats to Life, Arrest, or Other – $1.51 million

   Scammers used psychological manipulation, threatening victims with arrest, harm, or penalties unless payment or personal details were provided promptly.
   
   

📈 Most Common Scam Types by Report Volume

1. Phishing (484 reports): Continuing as the most frequently reported scam type, phishing affected a significant number of individuals and businesses.

2. Other Scams (473 reports): A collection of diverse scam methods, showing the variety of fraudulent activity taking place.

3. Identity Theft (463 reports): Scammers used stolen personal details to commit crimes or fraud in victims’ names.

4. Online Shopping Scams (428 reports): Many Australians were tricked into paying for items that were never delivered or were counterfeit.

5. False Billing (352 reports): A strong presence in both loss categories and volume, demonstrating just how pervasive and effective these scams can be.

While investment scams caused the heaviest financial damage, phishing led in volume of reports. This mismatch highlights the need to protect against both severe financial losses and frequent, disruptive scams.

👤 Targeted Demographics

Different age groups were targeted for specific reasons, with scammers exploiting their unique vulnerabilities.

• Unspecified (1,039 reports): Many victims did not disclose their age, making this the largest category.

• 65 and Over (683 reports): Seniors continued to be a primary target, often due to their financial stability and vulnerability to sophisticated scams.

• 35–44 Year Olds (668 reports): A busy, tech-savvy age group facing attacks like phishing, job scams, and identity theft.

Scammers adapt their strategies for each audience, but nobody is immune. Awareness and proactive measures are essential for reducing risk across all demographics.

📞 Methods of Contact

Fraudsters used a range of channels to reach their victims, tweaking their messages to suit each platform.

1. Email (1,105 reports): Emails imitating trusted institutions remained the most common tactic used to deceive victims into sharing personal information.

2. Phone Calls (954 reports): Scammers often pretended to be government officials or from financial institutions, pressuring victims into compliance through fear.

3. Social Media/Forums (749 reports): Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were hotspots for fraudulent ads, giveaways, and fake profiles.

4. Text Messages (685 reports): Smishing (SMS phishing) tricked recipients into clicking malicious links or revealing personal details.

5. Websites/Internet (557 reports): Fraudulent websites and fake marketplaces tricked victims into spending money on fake products or services.

With email scams leading the charge, vigilance in verifying any unsolicited communication is critical, regardless of the platform used.

💸 Financial Impact

The financial toll of scams in March 2025 was significant, affecting victims on both small and large scales.

• Average Loss Per Report: $1,407

Beyond financial devastation, scams result in emotional and mental stress for victims, shaking their confidence in online and personal security.

📍 Regional Impact

Scams continue to affect all states across Australia, with some regions reporting higher activity than others.

1. New South Wales (1,026 reports): The highest number of scam reports, reflecting its population size.

2. Victoria (953 reports): Close behind as a major hotspot for scams.

3. Queensland (852 reports): Another heavily affected state.

4. Western Australia (621 reports): High numbers of reports despite a smaller population base.

5. South Australia (470 reports): Consistently rounding out the top five affected states.

Scams are a nationwide issue, with larger populations reporting higher volumes of cases. However, no state is immune to fraud.

✅ Prevention Tips

March’s data shows that scams are diverse, but there are practical steps you can take to reduce your risk of becoming a victim:

1. Be Skeptical of Job and Investment Offers: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Research anything thoroughly before committing money.

2. Verify Urgent Communications: For calls or emails demanding immediate action, contact the organization directly to confirm legitimacy.

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add extra protection to your accounts.

4. Avoid Clicking Links in Emails or Texts: Always go directly to a website rather than using a link in an unsolicited message.

5. Educate Family Members: Share real-life examples of scams like threats or fake opportunities, particularly with seniors and younger members.
   
   

📣 Take Action

Everyone has a role to play in fighting scams. Here’s how you can help protect your community:

• Report Scams: Visit Scamwatch to share information about fraudulent activity.

• Start a Family Conversation: Use tools like the CyberSmart Family Guide to discuss scams and online safety.

• Spread the Word: Share this post with friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness.

• Subscribe for Resources: Join CyberSmart Families to receive monthly scam prevention tools, training, and videos.

By staying informed and proactive, we can reduce the impact of scams and build a safer online environment for everyone. Be vigilant, be informed, and help others stay safe too!

Note: All statistics and data in this blog were sourced from Scamwatch, a trusted resource for tracking and understanding scam trends in Australia.