Scams
Analysis
Banking products
$80 million in scams prevented as NAB rolls out new payment alerts
A new alert system from NAB has saved customers – including many desperate Swifties – a total of $80 million in potential scams.
- by John Collett
Latest
Exclusive
Crime
Grandson of Sydney’s ‘Mr Sin’ awaits US trial for $25 million alleged bitcoin Ponzi scheme
For about six years, David Saffron – fresh from running a bondage-themed strip club in Los Angeles – is alleged to have styled himself as an expert programmer and trader.
- by Sally Rawsthorne
More than 800 ‘good-looking’ people rescued from love scam centre
Those trapped were forced to send “sweet nothings” to their victims, peppering them with questions about their day and meals, until they could be convinced to part with money.
- by Sarah Newey
Exclusive
Crime
‘Crypto kings’ scamming fortunes from Australians to fuel lives of luxury
Drug empires, life-destroying scams and extravagantly lavish lifestyles have been fuelled by a spike in cryptocurrency crime as criminals exploit its anonymity to manipulate extraordinary amounts of cash.
- by Clare Sibthorpe and Perry Duffin
Tony Wright’s Column
For subscribers
Roll up, roll up, suckers. Have we got a free trip to paradise for you
There’s one born every minute, and the scammers of the internet know it better than anyone.
- by Tony Wright
Exclusive
For subscribers
A Melbourne retiree, a Brazilian influencer and a $200,000 catfish scam
An innocent post on a cat lovers page led to Marilyn Ayres losing almost $200,000 to the elaborate scam, which is using stolen photos of a handsome photographer to swindle women across the globe.
- by Cameron Houston
Exclusive
Stephen Jones
‘Not good enough’: Minister lashes Meta as losses rise from scams on Facebook
New data from the National Anti Scam-Centre shows older Australians are increasingly losing money through scams on Facebook and Instagram, while reported losses are declining from telephone and SMS scams.
- by Lisa Visentin
Exclusive
Telecommunications
New regulations ‘will open the floodgates’ on SMS scams
Telstra, TPG and Optus are on a rare unity ticket fighting against proposed changes they say will lead to more SMS scams.
- by David Swan
The repo man presented Robert’s driver licence. But the picture was someone else
Fraudsters are employing sophisticated new methods, which allowed them to purchase a luxury vehicle worth more than $110,000 in a Victorian man’s name undetected.
- by Rachael Dexter
Opinion
Opinion
We are all losing in the scam economy. Now there is a plan to act
It has become dangerously easy to fleece Australians of their hard-earned. Last year, 301,000 of us reported a scam.
- by David Crowe
Airbnb price gouging leaves Taylor Swift fans locked out of accommodation
Some Swifties are scrambling after being told their Airbnb bookings have been cancelled, only to find the properties re-listed at a much higher price.
- by Nell Geraets