Scams stories

Australians are warned of AI-driven Black Friday scams, with fraudsters using advanced tactics to create realistic fake shopping sites and offers.

Cyber Monday shoppers face scams and cyber threats; follow 10 expert tips to safely secure your data and enjoy the season's best online deals.

AI-driven identity fraud costs UK economy GBP £1.8 billion yearly, with synthetic identities causing 42% of cases amid rising festive season threats.

Over half of Black Friday-themed spam emails are scams, with fraudsters impersonating brands like Amazon to steal personal data worldwide.

Scam rates have doubled globally, with young adults aged 18-34 twice as likely as seniors to fall victim to rising digital deception, says F-Secure.

Australians lost over AUD $87,000 to scams last year, with risky cyber habits like password reuse and oversharing on social media putting many at threat.

Australians are urged to boost online security as AI-driven scams surge ahead of Christmas, with experts promoting multi-factor authentication and hardware keys.

Bitdefender reports a 63% rise in malicious Halloween spam, with scams posing as festive giveaways and retail offers to steal data or spread malware.

Google and Singapore's Cyber Security Agency renew partnership to enhance national cybersecurity with AI tools and public-private training initiatives.

Canada unveils its first National Anti-Fraud Strategy and a Financial Crimes Agency to tackle rising fraud losses, which hit CAD $643 million in 2024.

Many young UK shoppers risk scams by using AI and social media for festive gifts, despite widespread concerns over online holiday shopping risks.

Global scam attempts have surged 65% over the past year, with smishing rising tenfold as banks worldwide battle increasing fraud risks.

A New Zealand AI tool, CheckMyBuilder, helps homeowners and businesses spot risks with builders for NZD $49, using public records to flag issues before contracts.

A WhatsApp scam called 'Vote for my child' is spreading across Europe, tricking users into sharing codes and demanding money, warns Bitdefender.

RCS offers Australian businesses a secure, interactive way to boost customer engagement and trust, tackling data privacy concerns amid rising scams.

ANZ warns Australian small businesses to stay vigilant as scams cause AUD $84 million losses amid rising cybercrime threats in 2024.

US money laundering cases rose 168% in H1 2025, with scams costing Americans USD $6.5 billion amid rising AI-driven fraud and stablecoin use.

Norton has enhanced its Small Business service with Dark Web and Social Media Monitoring to help firms counter rising cyber threats in 2025.

The Regional Connectivity Symposium in NSW highlights digital inclusion, unveiling CASPER AI to boost online safety and connectivity in regional communities.

Australians lost over AUD $119 million to scams in early 2025, highlighting the urgent need for collective action from individuals, businesses and government.