During Scams Awareness Week 2026, four Australians shared their personal experiences with scams, highlighting the human impact behind the statistics. The campaign, themed 'No one’s just a number', aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of scams in Australia.

In the first half of 2026, Scamwatch received 91,767 reports, with $156.6 million reported stolen. Despite an 11% drop in reports, the total losses increased by 1%, indicating that scams remain a significant issue. ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe emphasized that being scammed is not a reflection of intelligence but rather the sophistication of scammers.

The stories shared include Lindy, who lost money after being pressured by a scammer posing as PayPal; Mannu, who was tricked into sending a deposit for a building project; Nikita, who sent money to someone she believed was a pilot in distress; and Susanne, who transferred funds after receiving urgent messages from someone impersonating her daughter.

The campaign encourages Australians to take three steps: Stop, Check, and Protect. It emphasizes the importance of taking a moment to verify requests for money or personal information, as scammers often create a sense of urgency. The National Anti-Scam Centre urges individuals to report scams to help identify and combat emerging scam activities.