Scams Awareness Week 2026: Technology Leaders React

Scams Awareness Week 2026, running from 24 to 28 August, is a national campaign led by the ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre. This year’s theme, “No one’s just a number,” puts a human face to the scale of scams in Australia by sharing real stories from people who have been targeted. The stakes are stark: Australians lodged over 91,000 reports with Scamwatch in the first half of 2026 alone, with $157 million reported stolen. The week encourages everyone to follow three simple steps – Stop, Check, Protect – and to talk more openly about scams and how to stay safe.

Here follows global technology leaders’ reactions to Scams Awareness Week 2026 (newest at top):

Ash Diffey, Vice President ANZ, Ping Identity

Scammers are leveraging GenAI for everything from deepfakes and voice cloning to personalised phishing and fake AI platforms that steal login credentials. The result is billions lost to fraud, rising citizen mistrust, and friction-filled digital experiences that undercut service delivery goals.

Indeed, AI is simultaneously amplifying opportunity and risk. AI tools now enable bad actors to convincingly impersonate job candidates or help desk agents to gain access to sensitive systems. The boundary between legitimate and malicious actors has blurred.

Companies that can demonstrate robust, adaptive identity protections can gain a competitive advantage, signalling to customers and employees alike that their data and interactions are secure.

However, as fraud losses can rapidly get out of hand, fraud prevention must be a critical part of any organisation’s strategy.  The good news is that with the advent of new technologies in fraud detection, identity proofing, and access management, identity teams can now work together with fraud teams to the benefit of the broader organisation.

Against this backdrop, a new model is also emerging: “verified trust,” a continuous and contextual approach to authentication that aims to replace static checkpoints with dynamic assurance.  Ultimately, identify verification solutions can help an organisation prevent identity fraud, support compliance and develop a great user experience.

When verified trust becomes embedded in every interaction, authentication transforms from a barrier into an enabler. It delivers not only protection against fraud and scammers but also the confidence that underpins long-term relationships.

Lindsay Keating, EVP & GM APAC, Pax8

With AI deepfakes and sophisticated digital tactics making scams harder than ever to identify, Australians are losing billions of dollars to scams each year according to the ACCC. This year’s Scams Awareness Week theme, ‘No one’s just a number’, is a timely reminder that every scam victim is a real human being experiencing real-life consequences. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the nature of bad actors in today’s AI era.

Scammers are increasingly playing a numbers game, leveraging AI to inundate parents, employees, young people, community members, and even tech professionals with high volumes of messages on multiple platforms and via a broad range of tactics. To counter this, Australian businesses must take a more active role in scam prevention by combining the speed and scale of AI under the guidance of human judgement and expertise.

Even the most sophisticated technology platforms could mistake a phishing attempt for a genuine email as a one-off error, and in today’s environment, a single error could have catastrophic consequences.

The combined capabilities of people’s critical thinking and expertise with the scale and speed of AI is necessary to keep Australians safe and Australian businesses as part of the solution, not problem, to the evolving threat of scams.

Jason Duerden, VP ANZ at SentinelOne

LLMs and AI agents can turn stolen records into thousands of tailored approaches, using details such as an Australian’s energy provider, medical clinic or myGov activity to make the scam feel legitimate.

Offshore scam syndicates now operate like technology companies, one Bangkok operation used advertising, scripted call teams and workstations set to Australian time to target 14,000 Australians.

The SPF can connect a scam’s full journey, from a deepfake ad on social media to a telco message and bank transfer, before each company concludes its part looked legitimate.

Fred Slikker, CEO of Digidentity

Breaches such as Origin and Partnered Health create a lasting supply of personal information for identity theft and future impersonation scams.

Stolen data paired with deepfake faces and voices is destroying the familiar signals Australians use to decide whether someone is genuine.

The SPF could shift the burden from consumers spotting fakes to institutions proving identities and maintaining trust throughout an interaction.

Christopher Rule, GM, Defence, Security and Resilience at GME Defence

While public awareness during Scams Awareness Week often centres on consumer fraud, businesses are facing an equally serious threat. Attackers are increasingly using phishing, social engineering and ransomware to infiltrate business systems, access sensitive data and control operational technology – not just steal money.

We’re seeing scams move beyond the individual and into the heart of business infrastructure, with the aim of exfiltrating data, intellectual property and personal information. The recent Origin Energy breach is a timely reminder of how exposed operational systems can be. Experts now foreshadow the targeting of critical infrastructure as the next threat. Where our information networks touch the physical world, scams may put at risk our energy, water, manufacturing, and power capacity. 

Through our partnership with Owl Cyber Defense, GME works with organisations to reduce this risk by limiting system exposure, strengthening access controls, and adopting a more resilient, Zero Trust-aligned approach to security.

Heng Mok, CISO-in-Residence, APJ, Zscaler

This Scam Awareness Week, organisations should recognise that scam prevention can no longer rely on individual caution or basic security controls alone. With Australia’s Scams Prevention Framework set to require regulated banks, telcos and digital platforms to prevent, detect, disrupt, report and respond to scams, scam prevention is, and should be, a business resilience and governance priority.

Zscaler research shows why this shift matters: Australia is among the top 10 most targeted countries globally for phishing activity. This comes as attackers continue to abuse legitimate AI platform features, such as shareable chats, to make malicious content appear more credible.

MFA can no longer be treated as the final line of defence. Organisations need stronger visibility, identity-based controls and Zero Trust principles to reduce the risk of scams becoming a broader compromise.

Akshaye Kalkura, CISO, BizCover

BizCover analysis looked at ScamWatch data from 2024 to 2025 through a small business lens, finding that scam reports fell 20.8%, while total losses rose 3.4% and the average loss per report increased 30.4%.

Scams are becoming more targeted, and criminals are getting better at making their attacks look legitimate. All it takes is one dodgy email, one fake invoice, and a successful scam can potentially cripple a small business’s operations.

Lower report volumes don’t mean the threat is disappearing. If you receive an unexpected request to make a payment or change bank details, take the time to verify it with the person or supplier through a separate channel before acting.

Hayley Fisher, Country Manager ANZ, Adyen

The average Australian encounters scam warnings almost every day. From fake delivery notifications to sophisticated phishing impersonations, exposure is widespread: 3 in 5 (63%) of Australian consumers experienced a payment scam or fraud attempt in the past 12 months.

Yet, digital commerce continues to grow. What is shifting rapidly is consumer expectation around trust and security. Visual signals like logos, domain names, or polished storefronts are no longer sufficient to prove legitimacy. As commerce shifts toward automated workflows, machine-readable catalogs, and autonomous AI transactions, identity verification must occur behind the scenes.

Establishing trust now requires robust backend governance. Protocols like delegated tokenisation, biometric authentication, “Know Your Agent” (KYA) controls, and intelligent risk detection ensure that both human shoppers and automated purchasing agents operate within verified bounds. These underlying layers validate transaction intent, protect sensitive credentials, and prevent fraud before execution.

During Scams Awareness Week, the conversation must evolve beyond basic fraud prevention toward embedding structural control into payment infrastructure. Trust isn’t just a defensive measure – it is a core competitive advantage that dictates where consumers, and their digital agents, choose to transact.

Lynette Owens, VP of Consumer Education and Marketing, TrendLife

When we’re under pressure, we’re at our most vulnerable to scams. Scammers know this. It’s why one in five Australians have either been scammed themselves or know someone who has been scammed while making a major purchase or investment, latest TrendLife research found. Scammers are inserting themselves into house-buying, car-buying or job seeking processes, as these moments involve urgency and a fear of missing out. That’s exactly what makes people less likely to notice the work of scammers. Or be suspicious of unknown third-parties, as they’re a normal part of these processes. 

At the same time, AI is making these scams increasingly difficult to recognise. Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and poorly-spoofed website links were once obvious warning signs. AI has now eliminated the tell-tale signs while automating scam operations en masse. Scam sophistication has boomed. 

This Scam Awareness Week, Australians need to recognise that much of the anti-scam education we have relied on is struggling to keep pace with how quickly these tactics are evolving. 

Education remains an important part of online safety, but it can’t work alone. As scams become more convincing and evolve faster, consumers must combine good digital safety habits and technology that can help more quickly identify threats. This is how anti-scam measures can keep pace with scam evolution. We should still stop to independently verify unexpected requests and seek a second opinion when something does not feel right, but we should also seek the support of anti-scam tools that recognise scams better than we can.

Sarah Carney, Head of AI & Automation at AustralianSuper says:

Superannuation is one of the largest financial assets of many Australians, which is why it can be an attractive target for scammers. Regularly checking your account, keeping your details up to date and monitoring activity through trusted channels like your super fund app are simple steps that can help protect your retirement savings from potential fraud.

AI is changing the scam playbook. Criminals can now create convincing websites, fake reviews, videos and endorsements that work together to manufacture trust at scale. Australians need to be more vigilant than ever and take the time to verify before they act.

The old warning signs of scams are becoming less reliable. A professional-looking website, polished message or even a familiar face is no guarantee that something is genuine. When it comes to your money, always stop, check and verify who you’re dealing with through trusted channels before sharing personal information or taking action.

AustralianSuper’s top 5 tips to protect your super in the age of AI

1. Don’t mistake familiarity for legitimacy Scammers are increasingly using AI to create polished emails, text messages and websites that closely mimic trusted brands and organisations.
   
   What to do: If you’re contacted about your super, don’t rely on appearances alone. Verify the request by contacting your fund directly through its official website, app or contact centre before taking any action. 
   
2. Be aware of messages designed to create panic Scammers know people are more likely to make mistakes when they’re worried. AI is making it easier to create personalised messages claiming your account has been compromised, a withdrawal request has been made, or immediate action is required.
   
   What to do: Pause before responding. Legitimate organisations will provide ways for you to independently verify information rather than pressure you into acting immediately.  

3. Be sceptical of anyone offering shortcuts to your super Whether it’s early access to super, guaranteed investment returns or exclusive investment opportunities, scammers often prey on people’s desire to improve their financial situation.
   
   What to do: Be sceptical of anyone promising quick gains, special access or ways around the rules. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. 
   
4. Protect the accounts that protect your money Your email account and mobile phone can act as the gateway to your financial accounts. If scammers gain access to either, they may be able to reset passwords and access sensitive information. 
   
   What to do: Use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and never share your login credentials. These simple steps can make it significantly harder for criminals to gain access. 
   
5. Check your super account as regularly as your bank account Many Australians check their bank account every day but rarely look at their super account. Regular monitoring can help you identify suspicious activity sooner.
   
   What to do: Make checking your super part of your regular financial routine by implementing simple steps like downloading your super fund’s mobile app. Keeping your details up to date and monitoring account activity can help you spot potential issues sooner. 

CommBank

New research from CommBank’s Behavioural Science Centre of Excellence shows Australians often try to deal with scams alone, potentially leaving them more vulnerable to scams. Of the scam victims who never spoke to anyone, the research shows:

• Almost one in three (31 per cent) believed they could handle the situation themselves

• One in three (33 per cent) didn’t think it was necessary to speak with someone

• More than one in three (34 per cent) said embarrassment had stopped them talking about it with someone else

• Yet 84 per cent of those surveyed think it’s worthwhile to talk to a loved one about scams 

Catriona Lowe, Deputy Chair, ACCC

Stop. Check. Protect.

The National Anti-Scam Centre is urging Australians to take three simple steps:

Stop

• Always take a moment before giving money or personal information to anyone.
• Scammers will create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting quickly. Don’t rush to make decisions about money or sharing personal details.

Check

• Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real.
• Scammers pretend to be from organisations you know and trust. Always verify who you’re really dealing with before taking any action.

Protect

• Act quickly if something feels wrong.
• The sooner you take action, the better you can protect yourself and others from scammers.
• If you believe you’ve had sensitive information or money stolen by a scammer, report the scam to police and contact your bank immediately.
• Report to Scamwatch even if you haven’t had money stolen.

Reports help the National Anti-Scam Centre identify emerging scam activity, support disruption efforts and warn the community.

The more we talk about scams and report them, the harder it becomes for scammers’ tactics to work.

If you have been affected by a scam, support is available. You are not alone, and reporting what happened can help protect others.

Scams Awareness Week is a collaborative effort between government, business, community groups, consumer protection organisations, educational organisations and individuals to promote scams awareness and help Australians stay safe.

Last Updated on September 5, 2026 by Nick Ross