TL;DR: A TrendLife report dated 8 September 2026 analysed 236,839 scam detections across Australia and New Zealand from January to early August 2026. Government impersonation made up 38 per cent, rewards-points scams 23.7 per cent and Amazon impersonation 12.9 per cent. Detections peaked in March 2026 at 58,641.

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What the report found

TrendLife, the Trend Micro consumer blog, published the analysis on 8 September 2026. It covers 236,839 detections across Australia and New Zealand between January and early August 2026. The figures are the vendor's own detection data rather than official loss statistics.

Detections peaked in March 2026 at 58,641 incidents.

The common pattern

TrendLife said the messages share a formula: urgency, a financial consequence or reward, and a link, often via shortened URLs or look-alike sites. A toll warning, an expiring points balance and a fine notice all follow it.

Protection steps

Do not tap the link. Open the official app, or type the website address yourself, and check whether the toll, fine or points issue is real. Never share one-time codes. Our guides on ATO and myGov scam texts and emails, Services Australia scams and the Australia Post delivery text scam cover the most common variants.

If you have already entered card details, call your bank immediately; what to do after a scam, wherever you live explains the steps after that.

Reading the numbers with care

These figures describe messages and links that a security product detected on devices in Australia and New Zealand. They are not a count of victims or of money lost, and they combine two countries, so they should be read as a picture of what scammers are sending rather than what is succeeding.

Even so, the mix is informative. The three largest categories, government, rewards points and Amazon, together made up about three-quarters of the detections in the report, and each relies on a brand most people use. That is why a message can feel plausible even when you are not expecting one. The safest habit is also the simplest: never resolve a message through the link it contains.

Where to report

Forward or report scam messages through Scamwatch. Our guide on how to report a scam to Scamwatch lists what to include.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many detections did TrendLife analyse?

236,839 across Australia and New Zealand from January to early August 2026.

Which scam type was most common?

Government impersonation, at 38 per cent or 90,095 detections, covering myGov, ATO and Medicare.

When did detections peak?

March 2026, at 58,641 incidents.

How should I check a toll or fine message?

Use the official app or type the website address yourself rather than tapping the link.

Sources

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