Australians are losing millions to scams each year, and it’s not just the elderly or the digitally naïve. Scammers are increasingly targeting culturally and linguistically diverse communities, using fear, trust, and sophisticated impersonation to rob people of their savings—and sometimes, their sense of safety. A new nationwide campaign is asking all Australians to Stop. Check. Protect.
Launched by the National Anti-Scam Centre and Scamwatch, the campaign focuses on building awareness and resilience, especially among communities more vulnerable due to language barriers, recent migration, or unfamiliarity with local systems.
Audio messages in 19 languages, video explainers, real-life case studies, social media tools, and multilingual printouts are now available to the public. All are designed to spread one message: scammers are getting smarter, but you can outsmart them by taking three simple steps.
The message couldn’t be more timely.
Wei Li, an international PhD student from China, received a call claiming to be from Australian Customs. The voice on the other end accused him of carrying a tainted passport and said he faced deportation. The call was then ‘transferred’ to what appeared to be the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. A man in uniform with a badge and a background resembling an office joined via video call. Wei was told he was involved in economic crimes. He was asked to prove the legitimacy of his funds by transferring $75,000 to a designated account. The threats escalated until his bank finally stepped in, flagging the activity as suspicious.
This scam wasn’t a random phishing attempt. It was tailored—preying on Wei’s visa status, cultural expectations, and trust in authority.
In another case, Daniel Lou thought he had found companionship on a dating site. What he found instead was an elaborate story involving a supposed US soldier deployed to Israel, rewarded with gold by the Israeli Prime Minister, and in need of help transferring it to Australia. Over months, the scammer built emotional rapport and sent documents—including a soldier’s ID, a passport, and even bank passwords—to “prove” her story. The final ask? Over $68,000 for a customs declaration fee. Daniel only realised he’d been conned after taking the documents to Sydney Airport and then to the police.
There are hundreds of similar cases, many of them devastating. A woman named Mina bought flights online through what looked like a registered travel agency. The site had an ABN, a contact number, and even responded to her queries promptly. After paying, she contacted the airline—only to find out her ticket had never been confirmed. The agent vanished. Loss: $11,000.
And then there’s Hana Kim, who found a job ad for data entry on social media. The training was provided, access was given, and she was soon ‘working’ on what appeared to be a legitimate platform. But to receive payment, she was asked to make repeated purchases. Hana lost $4,500 before the silence from the “company” confirmed what she feared—it wasn’t a job. It was theft with a corporate mask.
Scams are evolving. The new wave of fraud isn’t about poorly written emails from a foreign prince—it’s well-branded websites, video calls with fake officials, and smooth customer service chatbots. And it’s happening to people across every age, background, and postcode.
The Stop. Check. Protect. campaign hopes to disrupt this. The idea is simple: pause before responding to threats or transferring money. Check who you’re speaking to—contact the organisation through official channels. And protect yourself by reporting scams, so that others don’t fall for the same tricks.
The campaign’s multilingual resources include translated booklets, audio explainers on threats like extortion and identity fraud, and community-focused case studies. Many of these stories—shared with permission—serve as cautionary tales. They show how quickly a scam can spiral, and how anyone, regardless of education or tech-savviness, can be vulnerable.
The Scamwatch team encourages communities to share these resources widely—especially in WhatsApp groups, cultural associations, and community newsletters, where information spreads fast. Authorities hope this approach will help reach those who may not follow traditional news or government alerts.
The full suite of materials, including case studies, posters, and video explainers, can be accessed via the campaign’s media kit. Audio files are available in languages such as Hindi, Arabic, Tagalog, Punjabi, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and more.
The message is clear: trust is being weaponised. But with awareness, vigilance, and better communication, people can fight back.
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