Common scams
We get lots of complaints from victims of scams and fraud.
Despite working hard to help as many Queenslanders as we can, it’s almost impossible to get your money back if the scams come from outside Australia.
While the Australian Government’s Scamwatch website provides information on common scams that you should look out for, we’ve outlined below how the following types of scams can affect consumers and businesses.
Consumers
Some of the most common scams relate to:
- products and services such as online shopping, mobile phone plans, classifieds, and health and medical scams
- getting your personal information
- unexpected money such as rebates, prizes and lotteries, and inheritances.
Personalised scams aim to find out your personal details so they can target you directly, including:
Some common scams pose as opportunities, including:
- job and employment scams, for example pyramid schemes
- investment scams, including gambling and sports betting
- remote access scams.
Find out more about businesses and traders to avoid.
Businesses
Learn how to recognise and protect your business from:
- product and service scams such as false billing and overpayments
- hacking
- phishing scams.