Where to find help or support
If you’ve lost money to a scam or given out your personal details to
a scammer, you’re unlikely to get your money back. However, there
are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect
yourself from further loss.
Contact your bank or credit union
If you’ve sent money or personal banking information to a scammer,
contact your bank or credit union immediately. They may be able
to stop a money transfer or cheque, or close your account if the
scammer has your account details. Your credit card provider may
be able to perform a ‘charge back’ (reverse the transaction) if your
credit card was billed fraudulently.
Recover your stolen identity
If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, it is important that
you act quickly to reduce your risk of financial loss or other damages.
Contact IDCARE—a free, government-funded service that provides
support to victims of identity crime. IDCARE can help you to develop
a response plan to take the appropriate steps for repairing damage
to your reputation, credit history and identity. Visit the IDCARE
website at http://www.idcare.org or call 1300 432 273.
Apply for a Commonwealth Victims’ Certificate—a certificate helps
support your claim that you’ve been the victim of identity crime and
can be used to help re-establish your credentials with government
or financial institutions. Visit the Attorney-General’s Department
at http://www.ag.gov.au (or call 02 6141 6666) to learn more about
protecting and recovering your identity.