How Australians can stay safe from online scams in 2026 | Goulburn Post | #datingscams #romancescams

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More than 200,670 Australians reported scams in 2025, with over 58,700 in New South Wales alone. Scammers try to trick targets into handing over personal information and money. But what are the scam types, and how can you defend yourself against them?

According to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), romance scams are among the most ‘financially and psychologically damaging’ to victims. Scammers create fake profiles across dating apps and social media, gain trust, and then request money from targets. They say the money is for ’emergencies’, for example, a hospital bill or a plane ticket.

A scammer might spend a long time talking to the victim before they ask for anything monetary. Victims get frequent messages and start feeling like the connection with the scammer is real.

Scammers can set up fake websites that look like they offer legitimate products and services. These sites sometimes mimic well-known Australian retailers. Buyers may pay for goods but never receive their items, unaware that the scammer has stolen their personal information.

In 2024-25, phishing or information-request scams affected more than 106,900 Australians. In these cases, scammers may pose as banks or trusted organisations to gather card details, account passwords, and personal identification numbers.

Scammers use AI to generate videos that look realistic. The videos may feature supposedly trustworthy people, such as bank managers or celebrities. Perpetrators use deepfakes to try to persuade victims to provide funds or send personal information.

Job seekers may be tricked into believing that they have been hired for a role that doesn’t exist. Scammers will ask them to send upfront payments for training or essential gear, and they will steal personal information, too. Genuine employers in Australia do not ask candidates to pay to get a job.

The following steps can help you spot threats early and keep your personal information out of the wrong hands.

The ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre advises Australians to ‘Stop. Check. Protect‘. It recommends that everyone remember these three words before clicking on links, sharing information, or paying for goods.

When you activate MFA on any account, you need to verify your identity in two or more ways. For example, you may need to enter your password and scan your fingerprint or face to access accounts.

Using MFA is one of the easiest ways to protect your online accounts from scammers. Even if a criminal manages to collect personal information or passwords from you, they won’t be able to sign in.

Public Wi-Fi can be useful when you need to hop online while you’re away from home. Unfortunately, public networks can also be risky.

If you sign into an account on public Wi-Fi in a café or outdoor space, hackers could capture your information. You may think it’s just you reading your emails, but someone else could be viewing them at the same time.

If you need to use public Wi-Fi, never access accounts that could put your personal details or finances at risk. Install a virtual private network (VPN) application on your devices, too.

A VPN will encrypt your data, hide your location, and help protect you from scammers. The market offers many options, so look for one that’s widely considered as the best VPN by independent reviewers.

Updating your smartphone, laptop, and tablet regularly will install the latest security patches.

Outdated apps may have more security vulnerabilities for scammers to exploit. Updated email apps, for instance, should identify phishing emails and detect unauthorised access more effectively.

Installing antivirus software on your desktop and mobile devices can defend you against scammers. High-quality software will:

As with VPNs, plenty of antivirus solutions exist. Take your time and research your options carefully to find the right one for you.

Scammers are fast at adapting their methods, and you can’t become completely immune to scams. But keep your software updated, enable MFA, stay cautious on public networks, and you’ll be a much harder target.

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