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You should be wary if you receive any emails, letters, faxes, SMS and phone calls out of the blue, claiming to be from the Australian Financial Security Authority.
These could be scams designed to trick you into paying money.
How to report an AFSA impersonation scam
If you think you are a victim of an AFSA impersonation scam, phone us on 1300 364 785 (8.30am–8.00pm EST, Monday–Friday). You should do this as soon as possible.
How to report another scam
To report another type of scam, such as someone trying to obtain your personal information, or if you have been impacted by a scam unrelated to AFSA, report online to SCAMwatch.
If you have been impacted by cybercrime, such as hacking, an online scam or fraud, identity theft, or an attack on your computer, you can report this online to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network.
See also:
Email and letter scams
The emails and letters claim to come from AFSA and usually include the AFSA logo and addresses. They may appear to be signed by Directors or Assistant Directors from the agency.
These emails and letters can differ in appearance and level of sophistication. They generally state that you are required to make a payment in order to approve the transfer of large sums of money into the victims’ bank account. These scams are designed to trick you into paying money.
Below is an example of a hoax letter. We’ve highlighted the aspects that identify it as a scam.
Example
Key indicators that this is a scam include:
- Poor grammar
- Spelling errors
- Use of all capital letters
- Figure in USD
- Red text
- Stamp
