Scams Awareness Week is back from 24–28 August 2026, and this year we’re once again taking our message even further into the community.
This year’s theme, “No one’s just a number”, puts a human face to the scale of the problem. Behind every scam report is a real person, someone who has had money, time or trust stolen.
Last year, we held our first successful Tea and Tips scam awareness event, bringing customers together for an open conversation about scams, how they happen, who they target, and how to stay safe. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees taking away practical information to help protect themselves and their loved ones.
This year, we’re continuing that momentum with a local event designed to open up the conversation, raise awareness, and empower our community to take action. The more we talk about scams, the more we can help others recognise the warning signs and feel confident to speak up.
What’s Happening This Year?
Our team will be hosting “Tea and Tips: Staying Safe from Scams”, a special event on Wednesday 26 August from 10.00am to 11.30am at Easts Leisure and Golf Club, 2 Tenambit Street, East Maitland NSW 2323.
Hosted by our CEO, Mark Williams, the event will feature members of our team sharing real-life scam stories and practical ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Attendees will also receive helpful take-home resources to continue the conversation with friends, family and loved ones.
Why It Matters
Scams can happen to anyone. In 2025, Australians made 481,523 scam reports, with total combined financial losses of $2.2 billion. Of those reports, 274,577 Australians were scammed.
While the biggest losses came from investment scams, payment redirection scams, romance and relationship scams, and remote access scams, we have also seen the growing impact of buy/sell scams and impersonation scams. These scams often involve criminals posing as trusted organisations, such as banks, government agencies, or telecommunication providers. These figures show just how sophisticated and widespread scams have become.
Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressure people to act quickly, and make communications look like they come from organisations, suppliers or people we know and trust. That’s why the national campaign encourages three simple steps for any scam, in any situation: Stop. Check. Protect.
Stop. Take a moment before giving money or personal information to anyone.
Check. Make sure the person or organisation you’re dealing with is real. Use contact details you have found yourself, not details provided in a message.
Protect. If something feels wrong, act quickly. Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve lost money or shared financial details, and report the scam to Scamwatch.
By sharing stories and starting conversations, we can help others spot scams before they happen. We want our customers to feel confident, informed and supported.
How You Can Get Involved
- Attend our Tea and Tips event. RSVP by Wednesday 19 August here or by calling us on 1300 688 825.
- Talk about scams. Sharing experiences helps others recognise the signs and feel less alone.
- Stop. Check. Protect. Take a moment, verify who you’re dealing with, and act quickly if something feels wrong.
We’re proud to be part of this national campaign and invite all customers to join us in making our community safer.
