Westpac’s latest data has found a 1000 per cent increase in job scams – growing from a handful of cases in 2022 to hundreds reported so far in 2023.

According to Westpac data, Australians aged 31-40 are most likely to be affected by job scams representing one third (32 per cent) of reported cases. This is closely followed by those aged 18-30 (30 per cent).

The report also found women were most likely to be impacted by these scams, accounting for more than half (58 per cent) of all cases.

Cost of living scams to watch out for

• Investment scams: Fake offers that promise quick, high-interest returns.
  These scams now account for more than half of all scam-related losses.
• Job scams: Scammers impersonate recruitment firms or contact victims with
  fake job offers that require an upfront payment.
• Buying & Selling scams: Scammers advertise items at competitive prices
  through fake websites or online marketplaces.
• Impersonation scams: Scammers impersonate a well-known business or government organisation to trick you into sending money or personal
  information, such as energy or telco providers.

Job scam red flags

• Be wary of any unsolicited calls, text messages or emails with a job offer you
  have not applied for or heard of before.
• Always conduct independent research to ensure a business or job offer is legitimate.
• Be cautious of any jobs that require you to recruit other investors or employees
  to make money. This may be an illegal pyramid scheme.
• Never make an upfront payment for things like training or other work-related equipment before starting a new job.
• Don’t accept jobs that require you to facilitate payments and transfers through your bank account. Scammers often trick you into moving money that’s linked
  to some sort of criminal activity on their behalf.

Westpac Head of Fraud Ben Young said: “We’ve seen a significant spike in reported job scams since the start of the year, which occur when someone is tricked into making a payment or sharing personal information through a fake employment offer.

“Often, scammers will have fraudulently obtained some of your information like your phone number or address, which can make an offer sound legitimate. They also exploit the application process by tricking you into sharing more personal details like your driver’s licence, passport, or tax file numbers.

“Scammers also use fake job offers to trick you into sending money through some kind of upfront payment, such as training or other work-related equipment.”