Times of crisis can bring out the best in our communities; unfortunately, they can also attract opportunistic scammers during a particularly stressful time. As we head into bushfire season, the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) is urging Australians to be extra cautious of scam activity.
Those directly affected by bushfires, as well as those wanting to help, can be at risk during this time.
“In the chaos following severe weather events and natural disasters, it is important to be vigilant, as scammers prey on people’s desperation and goodwill,” said COBA Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience, Martin Latimer.
Staying informed and alert is one of the best ways to protect yourself and ensure that genuine help reaches those who need it most. COBA’s Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience team has compiled some handy tips to assist.
How to spot scams in the wake of a natural disaster
Scammers often exploit the immediate financial stress and desire to help that follows a major event.
“They know people are desperate to recover financially, and they exploit that desperation by offering false promises of financial relief. This is a classic tool used by scammers to gain access to personal information and bank details,” Latimer warned.
Scammers frequently impersonate government agencies (like Centrelink or the ATO) or utility providers and promise supposed ‘rebates’ or ‘insurance payouts’ to exploit the financial stress of victims.
Another common scam tactic is to impersonate legitimate charitable organisations, preying on people’s desire to donate and offer swift financial assistance during a crisis.
What to look out for
Before making any donations, take the time to verify the charity’s legitimacy through a trusted resource, such as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Be wary of unsolicited requests for donations and watch out for red flags like persistent or aggressive requests about needing money. As with all scams, cybercriminals turn to emotion and high-pressure tactics when asking for donations.
Always ensure you donate via the charity or organisation’s legitimate website.
“Check the legitimacy of a URL, look for secure payment methods, and confirm their affiliation with the genuine charity or organisation before making any payments,” Latimer cautioned.
Additionally, it’s important to stay vigilant to any phishing tactics, which scammers may adopt to steal your personal or financial information. This could look like unsolicited text messages, social media posts, or even emails that urge you to click on a malicious link to ‘donate’.
According to Scamwatch, emails are among the most common method of communication adopted by scammers, followed by online communications, and phone calls.
Latimer explained: “These links will lead to fake websites and phishing pages designed to steal personal and payment information or download malware onto your device.
“Avoid sharing any information that is not relevant, and don’t give out information to unknown or unverified individuals or organisations, especially if the contact was unsolicited.”
How to Stop, Check and Protect yourself
ACCC’s Scamwatch has seen nearly 160,000 scams reports in 2025 so far, amounting to over $250 million in reported losses.
To help yourself and others stay scam-safe, Australians are encouraged to adopt the simple, three-step “Stop. Check. Protect” method.
If you think you have encountered a potential scam, report it to ScamWatch.gov.au immediately and help protect others.
If you have been scammed, report the transaction(s) immediately to your bank or financial institution.
Customer-owned banks are dedicated to safeguarding their customers from scams and fraud and joined forces to launch the Scam-Safe Accord with the Australian Banking Association. This industry-wide initiative represents a united front against scammers and reinforces the banking sector’s determination to strengthen consumer protection. Find out more about the Scam-Safe Accord here.