Urban centres and growth areas are most affected by rising scam activity
Sydney’s central business district has recorded the highest number of scam incidents in Australia over the past year, according to new figures released by Westpac.
The data, drawn from customer reports, shows that high-density and rapidly expanding suburbs are especially susceptible to scams.
Other areas with significant scam activity include Liverpool in Western Sydney and the outer Melbourne suburbs of Tarneit, Werribee, and Craigieburn.
Across the country, the postcodes most frequently affected are 2000 (Sydney, NSW), 2170 (Liverpool, NSW), 3029 (Tarneit, VIC), 3030 (Werribee, VIC), and 3064 (Craigieburn, VIC).
State-specific data shows similar trends, with New South Wales and Victoria’s major urban centres most impacted. Queensland’s hotspots include Cairns, Bundaberg, and Toowoomba, while Western Australia’s Armadale and Mandurah also feature prominently. In South Australia, Morphett Vale and Salisbury are among the top locations, and the Australian Capital Territory’s MacGregor and Belconnen are notable for scam reports.
Although larger states report higher total scam numbers, the incidence rate is greatest in Western Australia and Queensland.
Ben Young (pictured right), head of fraud prevention at Westpac, noted that scammers continue to target a broad range of communities. “From fake investment opportunities to irresistible online deals, scams are reaching Australians in every corner of the country,” he said. “Scammers are constantly adapting and using emotional triggers and digital platforms to exploit Australians.
“While fast-growing areas have traditionally been hotspots, this year’s data shows a noticeable rise in scam activity across inner-city postcodes, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.”
Young also pointed out that the increase in reports from the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs is partly due to a rise in invoice and business email compromise scams targeting businesses. “We know scammers are opportunistic and going after businesses may seem like an easy money-making opportunity,” he said.
Despite a decline in overall scam losses over the last year, the most financially damaging scams remain investment scams, followed by business email compromise, impersonation, romance, and threat and penalty scams.
In 2023, the Australian Banking Association and the Customer Owned Banking Association, together representing 76 banks, credit unions and building societies, committed to the Scam-Safe Accord to strengthen industry measures against scams.
To coincide with Scams Awareness Week, Westpac hosted an online webinar for customers on scam prevention. The bank has also continued to develop its anti-scam measures, such as Westpac Verify with Confirmation of Payee, which warns customers if account details do not match, and a new in-app reporting feature. The forthcoming SafeBlock tool will also enable customers to quickly freeze their accounts if they suspect fraud.
“Our message is simple, if something feels off, take a moment to check before you click, pay or share your details,” Young said. “A few extra seconds could save you thousands of dollars.”
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