Creating Digitally Responsible Citizens

How do I know if I am being scammed and why is multi-factor authentication (MFA) needed?

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACCC, 481, 523 scam reports were made to ScamWatch, the reporting centre for the National Anti-Scam Centre, with a financial loss total of $2.18 billion in 2025. The most reported scam was phishing scams totalling 65, 361 reports. (ACCC, 2026).

Based on this data alone, it is important to stay safe and know how to do so. 

The Australian Government has put together a guide on way scammers can reach you, what you should look out for and the steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Text or SMS scams
• Phone scams
• Email scams
• Social Media scams
• Website scams
• In-person scams

ScamWatch also provides information about 11 different types of scams, the warning signs and how you can keep yourself safe. Here are two examples:

• Phishing scams
• Account or identify takeover scams

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds extra layers to the login process but by doing so, adds further protection and security of your identity. To find out more about MFA, please click here.

For further information and support, please visit the eSafety Commissioner website and ScamWatch.

Mrs Courtney Freebody | Leader of Learning - Digital Technology and STEM