‘Ongoing and significant harms’: New data shows millions still lost to scams in late 2025
Fresh data from Consumer Action Law Centre’s frontline services in the final quarter of 2025 confirms what Scamwatch reported throughout the year: Australians are still losing millions to scammers, with devastating and long-lasting consequences.
In the final three months of 2025, callers to Consumer Action’s frontline services reported $7.1 million lost, with 78% of victims who reported a loss living with at least one pre existing vulnerability — and one in three living with three or more.
The most common scams reported by callers were ATO/GST scams, romance scams, investment/crypto scams, and employment scams. Alarmingly, 32% of victims who reported a loss said they were being held liable by banks or lenders for ongoing debts associated with the scam, and 28% reported scam-related ATO debt.
“This data shows the scam crisis has not gone away — in fact, sophisticated technology is only increasing our vulnerability to scams,” said Consumer Action CEO, Stephanie Tonkin.
“People aren’t just losing their savings. Many are being hounded over debts incurred during a scam, compounding the trauma and placing them at risk of severe and ongoing harm.”
Consumer Action says the findings should jolt the Federal Government into fast tracking implementation of the Scam Prevention Framework (SPF) — with stronger, clearer, and broader obligations for industry.
The organisation is calling for:
· A high bar for industry through clear obligations on businesses to protect Australians from scams that will genuinely move the dial on scam prevention.
· The SPF to include high-risk digital platforms, including dating apps, email and online marketplaces.
· Straightforward access to fair compensation for scam victims.
“We need a dispute resolution system for scams that supports people, not one that deepens their harm or alienation,” Ms Tonkin said.
“That’s exactly what I’ll be raising with Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino MP, backed by the collective voice of our clients and national consumer advocates when I meet with him.”
Read a summary of our SPF submission.
ENDS
Media contact: Mark Pearce E mark@consumeraction.org.au Tel: 0413 299 567
