Australia’s scam hotspots revealed

From Toowoomba to Mandurah, new Westpac data has revealed the postcodes around the nation that have been hardest hit by scams.

The data shows that scammers appear to be emerging in locations of high growth or a larger proportion of older residents.

Sydney’s western suburbs of Liverpool and Campbelltown and Gosford on the Central Coast were among the top five postcodes hit , along with Tarneit and Werribee in the western suburbs of Melbourne, based on cases reported to Westpac between January 2022 and April 2024.

“We’re finding scammers are having the biggest impact in communities with increasing economic activity, or those with ageing populations,” said Ben Young, Westpac’s Head of Fraud Prevention.

“Scammers aren’t necessarily out there stalking the streets of these postcodes. They’re constantly evolving the way they target people, with many scams originating online or on social media platforms,” Young said.

From fake investment schemes to online romance traps, scams are becoming ever-more sophisticated and while the prevalence of scams is higher in some locations than others, Young urges all Australians to be vigilant regardless of where they live.  

“Our data shows scammers aren’t letting location limit what they do, with impacts seen in all corners of the country. The scams reported to us stretch from the fast-growing suburbs of Western Sydney where there is a relatively new hub of economic activity, to the tourist centre of Surfers Paradise and over to the West,” Young says.

Postcodes with the highest reported scam cases:

• New South Wales: 2170 (Liverpool), 2250 (Gosford), 2560 (Campbelltown), 2145 (Greystanes), 2259 (Hamlyn Terrace)

• Victoria: 3029 (Tarneit), 3030 (Werribee), 3977 (Cranbourne), 3064 (Craigieburn), 3150 (Glen Waverley)

• Queensland: 4350 (Toowoomba), 4870 (Cairns), 4215 (Southport), 4217 (Surfers Paradise), 4211 (Nerang)

• Western Australia: 6210 (Mandurah), 6112 (Armadale), 6163 (Hamilton Hill), 6065 (Landsdale), 6530 (Geraldton)

• South Australia: 5162 (Morphett Vale), 5159 (Happy Valley), 5114 (Craigmore), 5108 (Salisbury), 5290 (Mount Gambier)

• Australian Capital Territory: 2615 (MacGregor), 2617 (Belconnen), 2611 (Coombs), 2913 (Ngunnawal), 2602 (Lyneham)

 

The top scam types by dollars lost are investment scams (around 50 per cent), followed by business email compromise scams, remote access scams, romance scams and impersonation scams.

Naturally, states with larger populations report higher numbers of scam victims. But the rate – or frequency - of scams is highest in Western Australia and Queensland at 3.6 and 3.5 scams reported per 1,000 customers respectively. 

While scammers don’t discriminate when it comes to the age of their targets, the data reveals 61 to 75-year-olds reported the highest number of scams – accounting for almost one third (32 per cent) of all reported cases.

So far this year, Australians have lost $186 million to scammers, according to the ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre – and that’s just from the 181,000 people who have made reports. The actual numbers are likely far higher.

The numbers are a sobering reminder to stay alert and look out for the warning signs.  

To help people understand how to spot a scam and what to do about it, Westpac is hosting scam workshops in branches across the country and launched a new online learning tool  . The bank has also invested $100 million over two years in new prevention and detection measures to help combat scams, including the Westpac SaferPay and Verify features.

“Regardless of where our customers live, we’re continuing to invest in new ways to detect scams digitally and improve education and support through our branches and digital channels,” Young concludes.

7 tips to help protect yourself from scammers 
 

1. Never give out your personal or financial information to anyone you don't know or trust.

2. Don't click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails, text messages, or social media messages.

3. Do your research before buying anything online and check the seller's reputation and reviews.

4. Always phone a company to check the payment details are correct before paying an invoice. 

5. Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true.

6. Don't send money or gift cards to someone you've never met in person, no matter how convincing their story is.

7. Phone a family member or friend if you're unsure about anything.

 

Further information and resources available on Westpac Security Hub