New report profiles those most likely to be targeted by scammers
Australian postcodes most affected by scams tend to be high-growth areas, with older residents among the hardest hit, new data from Westpac has revealed.
According to the bank’s report, Sydney’s western suburbs of Liverpool and Campbelltown, along with Gosford on the Central Coast, rank among the top five postcodes for reported scams. Melbourne’s western suburbs of Tarneit and Werribee also featured prominently, based on cases reported to Westpac between January 2022 and April 2024.
Postcodes with the highest number of reported scam cases include Liverpool, Gosford, Campbelltown, Greystanes, and Hamlyn Terrace in New South Wales. In Victoria, areas such as Tarneit, Werribee, Cranbourne, Craigieburn, and Glen Waverley were heavily affected.
Queensland’s hotspots included Toowoomba, Cairns, Southport, Surfers Paradise, and Nerang, while in Western Australia, Mandurah, Armadale, Hamilton Hill, Landsdale, and Geraldton saw significant scam activity.
South Australia’s most impacted areas were Morphett Vale, Happy Valley, Craigmore, Salisbury, and Mount Gambier. In the Australian Capital Territory, the postcodes of MacGregor, Belconnen, Coombs, Ngunnawal, and Lyneham reported the highest number of scams.
Investment scams account for nearly 50% of total dollars lost, making them the most costly, followed by business email compromise, remote access, romance, and impersonation scams.
While states with larger populations naturally report higher numbers of scam victims, the rate of scams is highest in Western Australia and Queensland, with 3.6 and 3.5 scams reported per 1,000 customers, respectively.
Although scammers target all age groups, those aged 61 to 75 reported the most incidents, representing nearly one-third (32%) of all cases.
So far this year, Australians have lost $186 million to scams, according to the ACCC’s National Anti-Scam Centre. With 181,000 reports submitted, the actual figures are likely much higher.
“We’re finding scammers are having the biggest impact in communities with increasing economic activity, or those with ageing populations,” said Ben Young (pictured above), head of fraud prevention at Westpac.
“Scammers aren’t necessarily out there stalking the streets of these postcodes. They’re constantly evolving the way they target people, with many scams originating online or on social media platforms.”
From investment scams to online romance fraud, Young said these crimes are becoming more sophisticated. Although some regions experience a higher volume of cases, he urged Australians to remain vigilant no matter where they live.
“Our data shows scammers aren’t letting location limit what they do, with impacts seen in all corners of the country,” he said. “The scams reported to us stretch from the fast-growing suburbs of Western Sydney where there is a relatively new hub of economic activity, to the tourist centre of Surfers Paradise and over to the West.”
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
