Think you may have been scammed?
Understanding how common scams work and knowing the early warning signs can help you protect your money, your super and your personal information. This page explains the most common scams affecting banking, superannuation and North customers, how they typically work, and the red flags to watch out for.
Contact us
North: 1800 667 841
AMP Superannuation: 13 12 67
AMP Bank GO: 1800 950 105 & +61 2 5135 1930 (overseas)
AMP Bank: 13 30 30
We can help secure your accounts, stop payments where possible, and guide you on next steps.
Common scam warning signs
While scams can look different, there are common warning signs that something may not be legitimate. Be cautious if you notice one or more of the following:
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Pressure & offers
Pressure to act quickly or keep the situation secret.
Offers that seem too good to be true with guarantee of unusually high returns with little or no risk.
Unexpected contact or unsolicited contact by phone, email, text or social media.
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Requests
Requests to move money, especially to new, overseas or cryptocurrency accounts.
Requests and pressure to provide personal details, login information or identity documents.
Attempts to move conversations away from trusted or official platforms.
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Unusual methods
Unusual or uncommon payment methods being requested, such as gift cards or crypto.
Discouragement from seeking independent advice or verifying the offer or request.
If something feels rushed, confusing or “too good to be true”, it’s worth stopping and checking.
What to do if you’re unsure
If something doesn’t feel right:
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Stop
Stop. Don’t respond, click links or transfer money. Take a moment before acting.
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Verify
Verify the request by contacting the organisation directly using official channels and contact details.
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Contact
Contact your bank or super fund as soon as possible so they can help protect you.
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Protect yourself
If you provided your personal information or log in details, change your online passwords immediately, especially for banking, email and superannuation accounts.
Investment scams
What it is
An investment scam is designed to trick you into investing money with the promise of high returns and low risk. The investment may not be legitimate, or the risks may be significantly higher than you have been told.
How it typically works
Scammers often use professional‑looking websites, log in pages, apps or documents and may impersonate economists, financial experts or trusted institutions. In some instances, scammers will return small “profits” early on to build trust and encourage larger investments.
Key red flags
- Guaranteed or unusually high returns
- Pressure to invest quickly or keep the opportunity confidential
- Requests to transfer money to new or overseas accounts
- Limited, vague or hard to verify information about the investment
Illegal early access superannuation scams
What it is
These scams claim to help you access your super early, even when you don’t meet the legal conditions.
How it typically works
You may be told to set up a Self‑Managed Super Fund (SMSF) to access your money. Once scammers have your details, they may charge high fees, steal your identity or take your super.
Key red flags
- Claims you can access your super early when you’re not eligible or requests to keep the arrangement secret
- Pressure to quickly set up an SMSF or requests to keep the arrangement secret
- Language like “loophole”, “workaround” or “ATO approved”
- High upfront fees deducted from your super
Self‑Managed Super Fund (SMSF) investment scams
What it is
These scams pressure you to roll your super into an SMSF to invest in fake or high‑risk investments.
How it typically works
Scammers promote “low‑risk, high‑return” opportunities, often involving cryptocurrencies or unregulated assets. They rely on slick marketing to appear legitimate.
Key red flags
- Pressure to roll over your super into an SMSF
- Investments that are complex or hard to explain
- Limited independent information about the investment
- Being discouraged from seeking advice from your existing super fund or adviser
Buying and selling scams
What it is
Buying and selling scams happen when criminals pretend to buy or sell goods online. Buyers may pay for items that never arrive or are entirely different from their description, while sellers may receive fake payment confirmations or overpayment requests.
How it typically works
Scammers list fake items for sale or respond to genuine listings. They often try to move conversations away from secure marketplaces or platforms to avoid detection. Payments may be requested upfront, or sellers may be shown fake screenshots or emails claiming payment has been made.
Key red flags
- Requests to move off the marketplace or platform
- Pressure to pay quickly or to use unusual payment methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Fake screenshots or emails claiming payment was made
- Prices or offers that seem too good to be true
Impersonation scams
What it is
Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted organisations, such as prominent figures or influencers, banks, super funds or government agencies, to convince you into providing your personal information or transferring funds.
How it typically works
You may receive a call, email or text that looks legitimate and uses familiar branding. The scammer asks you to confirm details, click a link or make a payment.
Key red flags
- Unexpected contact claiming to be from a trusted organisation, famous person or individual
- Requests for personal or login details
- Links that lead to unfamiliar websites
- Messages designed to create fear or urgency
Job and employment scams
What it is
Job scams involve fake job offers designed to steal money, personal information or involve you in illegal activity.
How it typically works
Scammers promise flexible work or high pay for little effort and request upfront fees or personal details. Sometimes the “job” involves moving stolen money through your account by providing access to your bank accounts or making payments on behalf of another person.
Key red flags
- Guaranteed income or unusually high pay for the amount of work required
- Requests for upfront fees “training” or completing the application
- Requests to receive or move money through your bank account
- Communication only via messaging apps or personal email addresses
Romance scams
What it is
Romance scams occur when scammers create fake profiles to form relationships and build trust before asking for money.
How it typically works
After developing an emotional connection, scammers request money for emergencies, travel, medical costs or investment opportunities.
Key red flags
- Avoiding in person or video meetings
- Emotional stories that lead to money requests
- Inconsistent or changing personal details
- Requests for payment via international money transfer services, gift cards or cryptocurrency
Remote access scams
What it is
Remote access scams involve scammers claiming there’s an issue with your device or account and requesting access to your account or device to resolve it.
How it typically works
You’re asked to install software that gives the scammer control of your phone or computer. They then steal your information, install malware or transfer funds.
Key red flags
- Unexpected contact stating you have a problem with your account or device
- Claims your device has been hacked
- Requests to install software or apps
- Requests to log in to online banking while they are connected
Phishing, email and SMS scams
What it is
Phishing scams attempt to steal personal or financial information through fake emails, texts or messages.
How it typically works
Messages often include links to fake websites or attachments designed to look legitimate.
Key red flags
- Unexpected messages asking you to click a link
- Spelling or grammatical errors
- Requests for login details or verification codes
- Links that don’t match the sender’s website
Stay up to date
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How to spot an investment scam and stay one step ahead of them - AMP As investment scams become more advanced, it’s more important than ever to understand how they work, so you can learn how to spot them. -
12 tips to avoid online shopping scams and shop safely year round - AMP Protect yourself from scams every time you shop online. Discover practical tips to avoid shopping scams during sales events like Black Friday, EOFY, Boxing Day and more, so you can shop with confidence and security. -
How to avoid falling for an online dating scam - AMP Learn how to spot and avoid online romance scammers with our tips on identifying red flags and staying safe while dating online.
Important information
Any information contained on this page is provided by AWM Services Pty Ltd ABN 15 139 353 496, AFSL No. 366121 (AWM Services), a part of the AMP Group (AMP). The information is general in nature and for educational purposes only. It hasn’t taken your financial or personal circumstances into account.
While this information is intended to help raise awareness of scams and support you to protect yourself, scammers continually adapt their tactics, and risks may change over time.
Before acting on any information, you should consider whether it is appropriate to your circumstances and review any relevant Product Disclosure Statements, Terms and Conditions, and other applicable documentation. You should also consider seeking independent professional advice (including financial, legal or tax advice) and verify communications using official channels where appropriate.
Where external contributors or third parties are referenced, the views expressed are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of AMP.
While reasonable efforts are made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, all information on this website is subject to change without notice. If you believe you have been impacted by a scam, contact us immediately.
No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed or otherwise used without the prior written permission of AWM Services.