Scamwatch
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersCanberra, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Scamwatch does
Scamwatch is a free, public-facing Australian government platform that provides scam awareness education, prevention guidance, and a centralized reporting portal for Australians. It is operated by the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), a division of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and serves the entire Australian population, with tailored content for small businesses, First Nations peoples, and multilingual communities. The platform is funded through federal government appropriations and generates no commercial revenue.
The core technology stack is a web-based portal (portal.scamwatch.gov.au and scamwatch.gov.au) that collects scam reports via online forms, publishes scam alerts and news, and integrates with the National Anti-Scam Centre's fusion cell structure for coordinated enforcement. Key products include the Stop. Check. Protect. awareness framework, The Little Book of Scams (available in 17+ languages plus First Nations and Easy Read editions), an interactive Power BI Scam Statistics Dashboard updated monthly, a Scam Stories video library, the annual Targeting Scams Report, the Scams Awareness Week annual campaign, and interactive tools such as the scam-sense quiz and online relationship health check. Supporting technology includes Mailchimp for email distribution, ReadSpeaker for accessibility, and an RSS feed.
The go-to-market motion is community-led and publicly funded. Scamwatch distributes content through its own website, email alerts, Instagram (@scamwatchgovau), Threads, YouTube, the First Nations Infoline (1300 303 143), and an extensive referral network of partner organizations including ACSC, eSafety Commissioner, OAIC, IDCARE, ASIC, COSBOA, NITV, and Monash University. Combined scam reporting across Scamwatch, ReportCyber, IDCARE, AFCX and ASIC yielded 481,523 reports and $2.18 billion in reported losses in 2025, providing the data backbone for fusion cell coordination with the AFP and other enforcement bodies.
Scamwatch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scamwatch
- Legal name
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- Website
- https://scamwatch.gov.au
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scamwatch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Protection / Scam Awareness Services
- NAICS
- Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (9221), Investigation and Security Services (5616)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fraud Risk & Financial Crime Controls Advisory (BPAKADAL)
Keywords
Where Scamwatch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Canberra
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Scamwatch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government-funded public service: Scamwatch is a free government service funded by the Australian federal government through the National Anti-Scam Centre, which operates under the ACCC. There is no direct revenue generation from users; the service is funded by public budget allocations to protect Australians from scams.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Scamwatch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scamwatch operates a free public reporting portal and scam awareness platform where Australians can report scams, access educational resources on scam types and prevention methods, and receive real-time alerts about emerging scam threats. The platform is operated by the National Anti-Scam Centre within the ACCC and serves as Australia's centralized government resource for scam education, prevention guidance, and coordinated reporting to law enforcement.
Product overview
Scamwatch is a government scam awareness and reporting platform operated by the National Anti-Scam Centre within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). It functions as a comprehensive public resource providing scam education, prevention guidance, and a reporting portal for Australians. The core offering includes the Scam Reporting Portal for submitting scam reports, the Stop. Check. Protect. awareness campaign framework, and extensive educational content covering all scam types. Supporting resources include The Little Book of Scams (available in 18 languages including Easy Read and First Nations versions), the Scam Statistics interactive dashboard, Scam Stories video library with real victim testimonials, the annual Targeting Scams Report, and the annual Scams Awareness Week campaign. Specialised content exists for small businesses, First Nations peoples, and multilingual communities. Interactive tools include a scam sense quiz and online relationship health check. The platform integrates with social media (Instagram, Threads, YouTube), Mailchimp for newsletters, and refers victims to IDCARE support services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scam Reporting Portal
- Stop. Check. Protect. Campaign
- The Little Book of Scams
- Scam Statistics Dashboard
- Targeting Scams Report
- Scams Awareness Week
- Types of Scams Information Hub
- Post-Scam Recovery Guide
- Small Business Scam Protection Resources
- First Nations Peoples Resources
- Multilingual Scam Information
- Scam Stories Videos
- Quiz - Test Your Scam Sense
Quantifiable outcome
- 481,523 scam reports collected in 2025 with $2.18 billion in combined losses reported
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Scamwatch
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Scamwatch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Scamwatch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.
- Australian Federal PolicecoreThe AFP obtained contact details during a money laundering prosecution investigation and passed them to the National Anti-Scam Centre to contact victims. This represents law enforcement coordination to assist scam victims.
- National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC)coreScamwatch is operated by and is the scams awareness and reporting part of the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), which works across government and the private sector to protect Australians from scams. NASC coordinates efforts from multiple agencies and leads fusion cells targeting specific scam types.
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)coreScamwatch is a service of the ACCC, which acknowledges Traditional Custodians of the lands across Australia. The ACCC provides governance and oversight for Scamwatch operations.
- IDCAREcoreIDCARE is Australia and New Zealand's national identity and cyber support service. Scamwatch refers victims to IDCARE for free support plans to limit the damage from scams. IDCARE also delivers the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service for businesses with 19 or fewer employees.
- Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)coreThe ACSC monitors cyber threats globally and provides information about how to protect yourself and your business online. Referenced as a key partner in helping Australians with cyber security incidents.
- eSafety CommissionermoderateeSafety helps Australians experiencing online bullying or abuse to take action or make a complaint. They offer online safety training, presentations and workshops. Referenced as a related site for additional safety resources.
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)moderateOAIC investigates privacy breaches and handles data breach reports. They provide guidance and advice for consumers and business on how to protect personal information. Referenced as a related site for privacy protection resources.
- ReportCybercorePart of the combined reporting system for scam statistics. Victims can make official police reports to ReportCyber for cybercrime incidents.
- Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX)coreContributes to combined scam loss reporting alongside Scamwatch, ReportCyber, IDCARE, and ASIC. Part of the financial crime intelligence network.
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)coreASIC contributes to combined scam statistics and their Moneysmart website provides investment scam warnings. Scamwatch advises checking ASIC's website to verify if an investment person or company is licensed.
- NITV (National Indigenous Television)moderateNITV hosts the Goodways podcast series about scams affecting First Nations communities, featuring hosts Aunty Rhoda Roberts and Shahni Wellington, with episodes including interviews from the National Anti-Scam Centre.
- Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA)moderateCOSBOA delivers the Cyber Wardens program which empowers small business owners and their employees to become the first line of defence against cyber threats. Referenced as a resource for small business protection.
- Australian Signals DirectoratemoderateThrough the Australian Cyber Security Centre, provides guidance on protecting against business email compromise scams and offers the Cyber Health Check Tool for small businesses.
- Monash UniversityminorDr Kate Gould, neuropsychologist and Senior Researcher at Monash University, provides expert advice on scam psychology and how to support scam victims, featured in Scamwatch resources.
- COTA NSWminorCouncil on the Ageing NSW partnered with the National Anti-Scam Centre to produce the 'Stop. Better safe than scammed' seminar video featuring industry leaders on how to Stay. Check. Protect.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Scamwatch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ACCC Scamwatch parent — Australian Competition and Consumer Commission: Parent federal agency of Scamwatch; a broad incumbent Australian consumer protection regulator with enforcement powers beyond scams (competition, pricing, consumer guarantees).
- National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC): Parent organisation of Scamwatch coordinating cross-government and private-sector scam disruption; broader mandate than Scamwatch itself, including fusion cells and private-sector partnerships.
Direct peers
- IDCARE: Australia and New Zealand's national identity and cyber support service. Direct functional peer — Scamwatch refers victims to IDCARE for free support plans, and IDCARE contributes to combined scam loss reporting.
- Action Fraud (UK): UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, operated by the City of London Police. Most direct functional peer to Scamwatch — public-facing reporting, awareness campaigns, and coordination with law enforcement and regulators.
- FTC Consumer Sentinel Network: US FTC-operated secure online database of consumer complaints including fraud. Closely mirrors Scamwatch's complaint-aggregation and public-awareness publishing role for a national consumer protection agency.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC): Canada's central fraud reporting and intelligence unit, operated by the RCMP and Competition Bureau. Highly comparable to Scamwatch — public reporting, fraud prevention education, and partnership-driven disruption.
- ASIC Moneysmart: ASIC-run consumer financial education platform that issues investment scam warnings and license checks. Direct peer in scam-specific consumer awareness within the Australian financial regulator ecosystem.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): US federal hub for reporting internet-enabled crime, run by the FBI. Comparable to Scamwatch in role as central aggregator of cybercrime/scam complaints feeding into federal law enforcement and producing annual public reports.
- Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC): Australian government cyber threat monitoring and advice agency, run by the Australian Signals Directorate. Peer in cyber-awareness publishing and small business cyber resilience, with overlapping audiences.
Regional players
- Europol Cybercrime Centre: EU-level cybercrime coordination hub. Not a direct national reporting portal, but a regional peer in cross-border scam disruption that supports national equivalents of Scamwatch across Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scamwatch social profiles
Digital presenceScamwatch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scamwatch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Scamwatch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scamwatch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scamwatch
What does Scamwatch do?
Scamwatch operates a free public reporting portal and scam awareness platform where Australians can report scams, access educational resources on scam types and prevention methods, and receive real-time alerts about emerging scam threats. The platform is operated by the National Anti-Scam Centre within the ACCC and serves as Australia's centralized government resource for scam education, prevention guidance, and coordinated reporting to law enforcement.
Is Scamwatch a public or private company?
Scamwatch is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Scamwatch founded?
Scamwatch was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Scamwatch based?
Scamwatch is headquartered in Canberra, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Scamwatch make money?
One revenue line is on record: government-funded public service.
Who are Scamwatch's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ACCC Scamwatch parent — Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC). Direct peers are IDCARE, Action Fraud (UK), FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), ASIC Moneysmart, FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). Europol Cybercrime Centre is listed as a regional player.
Does Scamwatch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scamwatch.
What industry is Scamwatch in?
Scamwatch's product category is Consumer Protection / Scam Awareness Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKADAL, Fraud Risk & Financial Crime Controls Advisory. Its NAICS code is 9221.