Scams & safety
Australians lose more money to investment scams than to any other kind, and crypto is the payment method of choice for scammers because transfers are fast and irreversible. The defence isn't technical — it's recognising the patterns before money moves. No legitimate platform, adviser or stranger will ever pressure you to act quickly or promise a particular return.
The patterns behind almost every crypto scam — pressure, promised returns, and "helpful" strangers — and the checks that take 60 seconds.
Self-custody basics: when holding your own keys reduces risk, and when it just moves the risk onto you.
Every platform on this site is AUSTRAC-registered. What that filters out — and what it cannot.
Check whether a platform holds a financial services licence before trusting it with your money.
Been targeted? Report it
Reporting helps even when funds can't be recovered — it's how platforms and payment rails get blocked for the next person. If you've sent money, contact your bank and the exchange immediately, then report to:
- → Scamwatch (ACCC) — report a scam
- → ReportCyber (Australian Signals Directorate)
- → ASIC MoneySmart — investment warnings
General information only. If you're in immediate financial distress from a scam, contact your bank first — speed matters more than paperwork.