TL;DR: Scamwatch reported on 17 August 2026 that the National Anti-Scam Centre contacted more than 10,000 Australians by email after a UK police investigation into organised crime targeting cryptocurrency exchange and hardware wallet users. Arrests have been made, but those affected remain vulnerable, and scammers are impersonating both the NASC and the Australian Federal Police.

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What was announced

In a notice dated 17 August 2026, Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre) said the National Anti-Scam Centre had emailed more than 10,000 Australians. Their contact details were identified during a UK police investigation into organised crime. The criminal network targeted cryptocurrency exchange and hardware wallet users in multiple countries, and the Australian Federal Police provided contact details so people could be notified.

Arrests have been made, but the NASC said affected people remain vulnerable to further targeting because their information may still circulate within criminal networks.

The impersonation risk

The NASC warned that scammers are impersonating both the NASC and AFP personnel to ask for money and sensitive data. It said the genuine NASC will never request money or sensitive information, or send a text with links, attachments or a number to call.

Protection steps

Follow Stop, Check, Protect: pause, confirm using contact details you sourced independently, and report to your bank, cyber.gov.au and Scamwatch. Our guides on crypto scam statistics for 2026, realistic expectations for crypto scam recovery and romance investment (pig butchering) scams explain how crypto scams operate and why recovery is difficult.

What affected people should do

If you received the NASC email, the notice's advice is to be careful about anything that follows. A genuine agency will not text you links or ask for money, so any later message that does is likely to be a scam, however official it looks.

Crypto users can also review their own security: use unique passwords, turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app rather than SMS where available, keep wallet recovery phrases offline, and be cautious about any request to move funds to a 'safe' wallet. The only genuine way to confirm a message is to contact the organisation using a number or website you found yourself.

Where to report

Report to ReportCyber (Australian Signals Directorate) and Scamwatch. Our guide on how to report a scam to Scamwatch explains what to include.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the National Anti-Scam Centre announce?

That it had contacted more than 10,000 Australians by email after a UK police investigation into organised crime targeting crypto exchange and hardware wallet users.

Have there been arrests?

Scamwatch said arrests have been made, but affected people remain vulnerable to further targeting.

Will the NASC ever ask me for money?

No. It said it will never request money or sensitive information, or send a text with links, attachments or a number to call.

Who is being impersonated?

Scammers are impersonating both the NASC and Australian Federal Police personnel.

Sources

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