TL;DR: Published on 24 August 2026, during Scams Awareness Week, iTWire's report on National Anti-Scam Centre figures said Australians lost $2.18 billion to scams in 2025, up 7.8 per cent on 2024, from 481,523 reports. Investment scams were the costliest category at $837.7 million. The median loss fell from $500 to $400.

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The 2025 figures

iTWire reported on 24 August 2026, during Scams Awareness Week, that Australians lost $2.18 billion to scams in 2025, an increase of 7.8 per cent on 2024. The figures come from 481,523 reports, with over a quarter involving a financial loss.

The median loss per person fell from $500 to $400. The article reads that as scammers casting a wider net for smaller amounts, shifting from high-value to high-volume schemes.

The five costliest scam types

Australians aged 65 and over accounted for 26.5 per cent of reported losses despite being 17.1 per cent of the population. The article also described First Nations and culturally diverse communities as at elevated risk.

What the National Anti-Scam Centre advises

The advice is Stop, Check, Protect: avoid immediate action, verify independently, and never share verification codes. A lower average loss is not a lower risk, because more people are being targeted.

For specifics, read investment and trading app scam recovery, dating and romance scam red flags and remote access scam recovery, and see elder fraud statistics for 2026 for older Australians.

What the figures suggest

Two numbers stand out. Investment scams were the costliest category by a wide margin, at about five times the next largest category, payment redirection. And the median loss fell while total losses rose, which suggests that more people are losing smaller sums.

Payment redirection, where a payment is diverted by a fake change of bank details, is a reminder that businesses and households both need a call-back habit before changing any account details. For older Australians, the 26.5 per cent share of losses against a 17.1 per cent share of the population is a prompt for families to talk about scams openly and early. Talking before a scam happens, and agreeing that anyone can pause and call a relative before sending money, is one of the most practical protections available.

Where to report

Report scams to Scamwatch and cybercrime to ReportCyber (Australian Signals Directorate). Our guide on how to report a scam to Scamwatch walks through both.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Australians lose to scams in 2025?

$2.18 billion, a 7.8 per cent increase on 2024, from 481,523 reports, according to the figures reported by iTWire.

Which scam type cost the most?

Investment scams, at $837.7 million, followed by payment redirection at $166.8 million.

Did the median loss rise?

No. It fell from $500 to $400, which the article reads as scammers targeting more people for smaller amounts.

Who reported the biggest share of losses?

Australians aged 65 and over accounted for 26.5 per cent of reported losses while making up 17.1 per cent of the population.

Sources

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