THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP

ASSISTANT TREASURER

MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

MEDIA RELEASE

The Albanese Government is urging Australians to be alert to an alarming rise in employment scams.

According to the National Anti-Scams Centre (NASC) financial losses to job and employment scams have increased by over 740% in 2023.

Scammers are targeting jobseekers with lucrative offers to complete tasks, tricking unsuspecting victims into handing over their hard-earned money.

Australians have reported losses of $20 million to employment scams this year alone.

We’ve seen a significant increase in scammers impersonating genuine organisations and recruiters - contacting victims through job offers via WhatsApp or promoting jobs ads on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Tik Tok and Instagram.

They often help victims set up accounts on cryptocurrency platforms and get them to undertake training and tasks, before asking for a financial deposit with the promise of commissions or bonuses. In some instances, they entice victims to engage with schemes by offering small “cash backs” to begin. 

Scammers are targeting students looking for part-time work, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and people seeking to flexibly earn some additional income.

The Albanese Government is urging Australians who are seeking work to be on the lookout for the tell-tale signs of employment scams which can include:

• unsolicited job ads or offers via messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, or social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok or Instagram;
• scammers impersonating a legitimate recruitment agency, often offering part time, work from home, or freelance employment;
• scammers offering ‘guaranteed income’ or too-good-to-be-true rates of pay for simple task-based work online.
• scammers pretending to hire on behalf of legitimate online shopping platforms like Kmart, Myer, Kogan and Amazon, or hotel chains, travel-booking companies and marketing agencies;
• online jobs with game-like models which encourage people to earn more money by completing tasks, referring friends, and depositing money in an app;
• asking for payments directly to Australian bank accounts, with PayID as the preferred method in order to earn more income at the end.

What to do if you have been scammed:

• If you have lost money, contact your bank immediately;
• Contact IDCare on 1800 595 160 if you have provided identity documents to the scammer;
• Report scams to the National Anti-scam Centre via scamwatch.gov.au
• People who experiencing financial hardship can speak with a financial counsellor through the National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007 or access live chat via their website – ndh.org.au