How to spot a scam early (and how to take action)

Scams are something everybody should be alert to in the digital age.

Cyber criminals are targeting hardworking Australians every day, with the goal of stealing their cash or personal information – but you can better prepare yourself by knowing the warning signs.

Today we’re breaking down the key warning signs of when something appears to be a scam.

Scams take a range of forms, but with our help, you’ll be better able to spot them.

Scammers attempt to look authentic with official-looking profile pictures, names and language. Usually, a scam involves a ‘call to action’, such as a high-pressure request to share personal details or make a payment. A scam may impersonate a real authority or someone you recognise to trick you, such as a social media support team or a celebrity.

You also need to be aware of those little details that indicate potentially malicious behaviour – things like odd spelling and use of punctuation marks, strange links, or phrasing that makes you feel rushed or under pressure are typically clear indicators of a potential scam.

A scam message or phone call may also ask for personal information, such as login (usernames and passwords), credit card and banking information. Do not give out this sensitive information to any caller – verify online via an official website that the number calling is an official phone number of the company or organisation it says it’s representing.

ScamWatch, a program operated by the National Anti-Scam Centre, itself part of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, has a terrific resource on the common signs of a scam. In short, here are some tell-tale signs:

• It’s an amazing opportunity to make or save money
• Someone you haven’t met needs your help – and money
• The message contains links or attachments
• You feel pressured to act quickly
• They ask you to pay in unusual or specific ways, such as gift cards
• They ask you to set up new accounts or PayIDs.

Remember: scams come in all shapes and sizes, and you may receive a scam message through a call, text message, social media post or instant messaging platform (like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger).

To combat SMS scams and protect consumers, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is implementing a mandatory SMS Sender ID Register.

From July 1, 2026, the Sender ID Register will come into effect. Messages from businesses with Sender IDs not included on the register will be labelled as “Unverified”.

This is to help Australians stay safe from SMS scams by providing verification that a message with an SMS sender ID has come from a registered company or organisation.

Learn more about SMS Sender ID here.

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) offers some great advice for when you think you’ve spotted a scam.

1. Think before you click on a link: the link may contain malicious material. Hover your cursor over the link or hold your finger down on the link if using a phone or tablet, to check the actual web address it directs to.
2. Never provide your details via a link in a message: if you need to visit a website, such as your bank, telco or a government service, it’s safer to manually type the official web address into your browser or find it via a search engine. Avoid results listed as ads, as cybercriminals may pose as official websites.
3. Contact the person or business to check if they sent the message: reputable businesses list legitimate points of contact on their actual website, or in brochures, official apps and in stores. Don’t rely on contact information included in a suspicious message.
4. Think you’ve entered your personal details into a scam (phishing) site? Don’t feel embarrassed if you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam. Access the ASD’s ‘Have you been hacked’ online tool to take action, or get help through the ASD’s getting help resource.

You may also want to contact your bank or the police.

If you believe you’ve spotted a scam, you should report it to ScamWatch immediately. Reporting a scam to ScamWatch helps the program take action and stop scammers in their tracks.

Organisations such as Optus itself, banks, companies, charities and government may also have avenues of reporting scams directly to them. For Optus customers, if you believe someone is attempting to phish for your Optus details, you can let us know by contacting us. You can also tell us about SMS scams via Scamwise in My Optus App.