How to spot a scam

What is a scam?

Have you ever received a text about a delivery you never ordered? Or maybe it's an email with an investment offer that’s too good to be true?

A scam is when a criminal tries to trick you into handing over personal or sensitive information (or both) to steal your money. There are many types of scams, like:

Phishing – a scammer tries deceiving you to get personal information

Investment scams – a scammer promises big returns but tries to take your money

Most of us have seen at least one type of scam in our lives. And with how convincing they can be, it can be easy to fall for them. In fact, over 108,000 Australians lost approximately $174 million to scams in the first half of 2025.¹

A scammer might contact you in different ways, like calling, texting, emailing or through social media to try and target you.

Scammers targeting super

Your super is one of the biggest assets that you might have, and cyber criminals are looking for new ways to try and get their hands on it. Scary? Yes. But the good news is that spotting a scam isn’t as hard as it sounds.

Once you know the warning signs, you can feel more confident about protecting your money and your personal information.

The top 5 scams for over 55s

According to Scamwatch,² the top 5 scams affecting people 55 years and older in 2025 were:

Investment scams

The scammer promises big returns with the goal to steal your money.

Phishing scams

The scammer tries to trick you into sharing personal or financial information.

Romance scams

The scammer uses romance or friendship to gain your trust and money.

Employment scams

The scammer contacts you and pretends to be hiring on behalf of a company or recruitment company to steal personal information.

Rebate scams

The scammer impersonates a bank or government agency with the promise of a rebate, but they are after your personal or financial information.

What is a superannuation scam?

Some scams target super specifically. For example, you might be contacted by someone offering to ‘help’ you access your money early. Or they might offer to roll over your balance into a new fund with high, guaranteed returns.

Others may promote alternative investments, such as crypto or overseas property schemes, with the claim that you can use your super to make a quick profit.³

These scammers often use official-sounding language in their communication. Some might even copy real logos or website layouts. That’s why it’s so important to check directly with your fund before you act. A quick phone call can save years of financial stress.

What tricks do scammers use?

Scammers have many tricks up their sleeves. Here are a few telltale signs that the person contacting you might be a scammer:

1. There’s a sense of urgency and they pressure you to act without giving you time to think.
2. They contact you unexpectedly and the same scammer might contact you repeatedly.
3. They ask for personal or sensitive information, like your super or bank account details.
4. They offer you something that’s too good to be true, or push you to move your money quickly before you ‘miss out’.
5. They use an unusual email that doesn't match the organisation they're pretending to be.
6. They send you an unusual link or an attachment in an email or text and encourage you to open it.
7. They send a message or email that sounds different from other communication you received from the company they’re impersonating.

Everyday habits that can help keep you safe

There are three simple steps you can follow to protect your super from scammers and have a safe and happy retirement:

Stop: Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if you’re unsure about a request. You should never feel pressured to do something on the spot. Any legitimate organisation will move at your pace, not theirs.

Think: Take a moment to ask yourself, ‘Who’s really there?’ If you can, verify the number, email, or website independently, like through your fund’s app. Or consider calling back the company to verify the request with a number you know that’s legitimate.

Protect: Act quickly if something feels wrong and report the matter to your super fund or financial institution. If you think you may have been the victim of a fraud or scam and you’re concerned about your account security, your fund should be able to help. Be sure to log onto your account and check your details remain the same on a regular basis to protect yourself.

What can you do if you’ve experienced a scam?

If you’ve experienced a scam, it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone. Even the most cautious person can fall for one. If you think you’ve experienced a scam relating to your super or finances, you can:

• Call your super fund or your bank so they can secure your account.
• Report the scam to Scamwatch to help prevent others being affected.
• The faster you act and report your suspicions, the stronger your chance of limiting the impact.

If you need additional support

There are options available if you need extra support:

• Stay updated with current scams at scamwatch.gov.au
• Contact IDCARE if you need support with identify theft
• Contact Beyond Blue or Lifeline if you need mental health support