Personal Fraud

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Statistics about personal fraud, including card fraud, identity theft, and scams (phishing, romance, computer support, financial advice and more)

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Reference period
2023-24 financial year

Key statistics

  • 1 in 10 Australians experienced card fraud in 2023-24
  • Card fraud increased from 8.7% in 2022-23 to 9.9% in 2023-24
  • Scam victimisation increased from 2.5% in 2022-23 to 3.1% in 2023-24

Statistics discussed in the commentary refer to experiences which occurred in the 12 months prior to interview (conducted between July 2023 and June 2024), referred to as the 2023-24 reference period.

All statistics referred to throughout the commentary are available from the data downloads. Figures marked with an asterisk (*) have a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.

Any differences between population groups or reference periods described in the commentary are statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.

For more information about statistical significance and relative standard error, refer to the Personal Fraud Methodology, 2023-24 financial year.

Victimisation summary

In 2023-24, an estimated 14% of persons aged 15 years and over experienced one or more types of personal fraud, including:

  • 9.9% (2.1 million) who experienced card fraud
  • 3.1% (675,300) who experienced a scam
  • 1.2% (255,100) who experienced identity theft
  • 2.0% (433,000) who experienced online impersonation
  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced each fraud type in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over. More than one type of fraud may have been experienced.

Card fraud

Card fraud involves the use of credit, debit, or EFTPOS card details to make purchases or withdraw cash without the account owner's permission.

Victimisation rate

In 2023-24, an estimated 9.9% of persons (2.1 million) experienced card fraud. Females (11%) were more likely than males (9.3%) to experience card fraud.

Changes over time

The card fraud victimisation rate increased from 8.7% in 2022-23 to 9.9% in 2023-24. 

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced card fraud in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over.

Socio-demographic characteristics

The card fraud victimisation rate varied by age, with those aged 45 to 54 years being the most likely to experience card fraud (14%).

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons in each age group who experienced card fraud in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons in the relevant age group.

The following groups were more likely to experience card fraud:

  • persons with a disability or restrictive condition (12%) compared to those without a disability or restrictive condition (9.3%)
  • persons who have a non-school qualification (such as a certificate, diploma, or degree) (11%) compared with persons who do not (7.6%)
  • persons living in households in the highest quintile of equivalised weekly household income (13%) compared with persons living in households in all other income quintiles (ranging from 8.2% to 10%)

Characteristics of the most recent incident

Nearly all persons who experienced card fraud in 2023-24 notified (or were notified by) an authority about the most recent incident (98% or 2.1 million), most commonly a bank or financial institution (93%).

  1. Reporting rate refers to the total number of persons who reported the most recent incident of card fraud to an authority, expressed as a percentage of the total number of persons who experienced card fraud in the last 12 months.
  2. Includes cases where an authority notified the respondent of the incident.
  3. The most recent incident of card fraud may have been reported to more than one authority.

Most people (91%) who experienced card fraud had money withdrawn or used in the most recent incident, including 17% who had more than $1,000 withdrawn or used.

The median amount withdrawn or used was $250.

  1. May include incidents where the fraudulent transactions were blocked.

Three quarters (75%) of people who experienced card fraud received a reimbursement from their card issuer, with most (72%) being reimbursed in full. 

  1. Refers to whether received reimbursement at time of survey.

Total financial loss for all persons

In the most recent incident of card fraud:

  • the gross amount withdrawn or used for all persons was $2.1 billion
  • the net loss after any reimbursements paid for all persons was $477 million

Scams

A scam is a fraudulent invitation, request, notification, or offer, designed to obtain personal information or money, or otherwise obtain a financial benefit by deceptive means.

In the context of the survey, experiencing a scam meant the person responded to a scam by seeking further information, providing money or personal information, or accessing links associated with the scam.

For definitions of specific scams, refer to the Glossary.

Victimisation rate

In 2023-24, an estimated 3.1% of persons (675,300) experienced a scam. Females (3.5%) were more likely than males (2.7%) to experience a scam.

Changes over time

The scam victimisation rate increased from 2.5% in 2022-23 to 3.1% in 2023-24.

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced a scam in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over.

Socio-demographic characteristics

The scam victimisation rate varied by age, ranging from 2.2% for persons aged 15 to 24 years, to 3.8% for persons aged 45 to 64 years.

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons in each age group who experienced a scam in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons in the relevant age group.

The following groups were more likely to experience a scam:

  • persons with a disability or restrictive condition (4.4%) compared to those without a disability or restrictive condition (2.6%)
  • persons born overseas (3.7%) compared with those born in Australia (2.8%)
  • persons living in a capital city (3.3%) compared with those living outside of a capital city (2.8%)
  • persons who have a non-school qualification (such as a certificate, diploma, or degree) (3.5%) compared with persons who do not (2.4%)

Victimisation by scam type

In 2023-24, the most common types of scams experienced were:

  • Buying or selling scams (1.4% or 308,200)
  • Information request or phishing scams (0.7% or 148,800)
  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced the scam type in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over. More than one type of scam may have been experienced.

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24, the victimisation rate increased for the following scam types:

  • Buying or selling (1.0% to 1.4%)
  • Computer support (0.1% to 0.2%)
Scam victimisation rates(a), by scam type, 2020–21 to 2023–24
 2020–212021–222022–232023–24
Information request or phishing(b)1.0%0.8%0.6%0.7%
Computer support0.3%0.2%(b)0.1%0.2%
Financial advice0.4%0.4%0.3%0.4%
Upfront payment0.4%(b)0.2%0.4%0.4%
Buying or selling(b)0.8%(b)0.8%(b)1.0%1.4%
  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced the scam type in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over. More than one type of scam may have been experienced.
  2. The difference between the victimisation rate for that year and the 2023–24 victimisation rate is statistically significant.
     

Multiple victimisation

Most people who experienced a scam in 2023-24 experienced only one type of scam (91%).

Reporting of the most serious incident

An estimated 71% of persons (477,800) who experienced a scam notified (or were notified by) an authority about the most serious scam incident, which was similar to 2022-23 (69%). 

The reporting rate was similar for both males (68%) and females (73%).

The most common authority notified was a bank or financial institution (54%).

Between 2022-23 and 2023-24, there was a change in reporting rates for the following authorities:

  • Social media or selling sites (increased from 9.7% to 14%)
  • Police (declined from 13% to 8.4%)
Authorities most serious scam incident was reported to(a)(b), 2021–22 to 2023–24
 2021–222022–232023–24
Bank or financial institution(d)32.2%48.9%54.1%
Social media or selling site11.1%(d)9.7%13.6%
Government organisation or department11.8%8.7%8.6%
Police(d)13.9%(d)12.6%8.4%
Other(d)9.9%(d)8.9%4.9%
Any authority(c)(d)57.4%69.4%70.8%
  1. Reporting rate refers to the total number of persons who reported the most serious scam incident to an authority, expressed as a percentage of the total number of persons who experienced a scam in the last 12 months.
  2. Includes cases where an authority notified the respondent of the incident.
  3. The most serious scam incident may have been reported to more than one authority.
  4. The difference between the proportion for that year and the 2023-24 proportion is statistically significant.
     

Identity theft

Identity theft is the use of someone’s personal details in stolen, fraudulent, or forged documents without permission, or otherwise illegally appropriating another’s identity.

Victimisation rate

In 2023-24, an estimated 1.2% of persons (255,100) experienced identity theft. Males (1.3%) and females (1.0%) experienced identity theft at a similar rate.

Changes over time

The victimisation rate for identity theft was similar between 2022-23 (1.0%) and 2023-24 (1.2%).

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced identity theft in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over.

Socio-demographic characteristics

Persons with a disability or restrictive condition (1.8%) were more likely to experience identity theft than persons without a disability or restrictive condition (0.9%).

Characteristics of the most recent incident

In 2023-24, 80% of persons (204,300) who experienced identity theft notified (or were notified by) an authority about the most recent incident, most commonly a bank or financial institution (42%).

  1. Reporting rate refers to the total number of persons who reported the most recent incident of identity theft to an authority, expressed as a percentage of the total number of persons who experienced identity theft in the last 12 months.
  2. Includes cases where an authority notified the respondent of the incident.
  3. The most recent incident of identity theft may have been reported to more than one authority.
  4. Data for social media site is not shown, as it has an associated RSE greater than 50%.

Of those who experienced identity theft, common ways stolen personal information was used included:

  • to obtain money from a bank account, superannuation, or investments/shares (25%)
  • to open accounts in the persons name, including phone and utilities (12%)

Online impersonation

Online impersonation occurs when someone’s personal details have been purposefully misused to impersonate them online without their permission.

Victimisation rate

In 2023-24, an estimated 2.0% of persons (433,000) experienced online impersonation. Males (1.8%) and females (2.2%) experienced online impersonation at a similar rate.

Changes over time

The victimisation rate for online impersonation was similar between 2022-23 (2.1%) and 2023-24 (2.0%).

  1. Victimisation rate refers to the number of persons who experienced online impersonation in the last 12 months, expressed as a percentage of all persons aged 15 years and over.

Socio-demographic characteristics

The following groups were more likely to experience online impersonation:

  • persons with a disability or restrictive condition (3.1%) compared to those without a disability or restrictive condition (1.6%)
  • persons born in Australia (2.2%) compared with those born overseas (1.6%)

Data downloads

Personal Fraud (Tables 1a to 14b)

Experiences of card fraud, selected scams, identity theft and online impersonation. Includes victimisation rates, reporting rates, socio-demographic characteristics, and incident characteristics.

Data files
Download xlsx [214.78 KB]

Data item list

List of data items collected in the survey.

Data files
Download xlsx [429.7 KB]

All data downloads

All Personal Fraud, 2023-24 data download files.

Data files
Download zip [386.2 KB]

Methodology

Scope

People aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings.

Excludes:

  • Australian permanent defence force members and their dependants
  • non-Australian defence forces
  • residents of the Indigenous Community Strata.

Geography

Data available for:

  • Australia
  • States and territories.

Source

Multipurpose Household Survey

Collection method

Interviews were conducted by telephone with responses directly recorded in an electronic questionnaire.

Proxy interviews were permissible under certain circumstances.

Concepts, sources and methods

Not applicable to this release

History of changes

Not applicable to this release

View full methodology

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