How Do I Report A Scam?

Where to report

In Australia, you can report scams to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. Reporting helps authorities understand and track the scams that are circulating, and it can help warn other people before they are caught out by the same approach. It is worth doing even when you came to no harm yourself, because every report adds to a broader picture that protects the wider community.

If the scam impersonated a real business, it is also worth letting that business know, so that they are aware their name is being misused and can respond appropriately. If someone has impersonated Merion, you can tell us through our official channels, and we can also help you confirm whether a particular contact was genuine in the first place. Reporting is quick, and it turns an unpleasant experience into something that helps others.

If money is involved

If you have made a payment or shared your bank or card details, contact your bank or card provider as soon as you possibly can. They can advise you on protecting your account, on watching for further activity, and on any options that may be available to you given your situation. Speed genuinely matters here, because prompt action often makes a real difference to the outcome.

While you do this, keep a note of what happened, including the relevant dates and amounts, so that you can explain the situation clearly and without having to rely on memory under pressure. Our guidance on protecting against payment fraud covers related steps in more detail. Acting quickly and keeping good notes puts you in the strongest possible position to limit any loss and resolve the matter.

Secure your accounts

After a scam, take some practical steps to secure anything that may have been affected, rather than waiting to see whether a problem develops. A short, deliberate checklist is the most reliable way to make sure nothing is overlooked in the moment.

• Change the passwords for any accounts that could be involved.
• Turn on extra security, such as two-factor authentication, where it is available.
• Watch your statements and accounts closely for unexpected activity.
• Run a security check on your device if you clicked a link.

These steps help limit any impact and reduce the chance of further problems down the line. Working through them calmly, one at a time, is far more effective than trying to do everything at once, and it leaves you confident that the obvious gaps have been closed.

What helps a report

When you make a report, include whatever details you have to hand: how you were contacted, what exactly was asked of you, any phone numbers, web addresses, or account details the scammer used, and what you did in response. The more context you can provide, the more useful your report tends to be, and keeping copies of the original messages can help considerably.

That said, you do not need to have everything for a report to be worthwhile, so report what you can rather than holding back because some detail is missing. Each report contributes to the picture that helps authorities and businesses protect people from the same scheme, so a complete account is genuinely valuable. Keeping calm notes as soon as you can, while the details are fresh, is one of the most helpful things you can do, both for your own report and for anyone investigating the same approach.