Australians urged to speak up if they have been a victim of a scam

Jessica Rowe and her mum are spearheading a campaign to encourage Australians to talk to their loved ones as a way to help prevent scams spreading.

Australians are among the most scammed people in the world, but a simple chat with their loved ones could help slow down others from getting scammed.

The Commonwealth Bank has urged Australians to share their experiences with scammers to help better protect loved ones from falling victims to similar tricks.

According to figures by one of the big four banks, more than 90 per cent of Aussies say talking about scammers with loved ones can help build awareness, but only 8 per cent say they are comfortable telling a family they have been scammed.

Nearly two in five Gen X and Baby Boomers (37 per cent) say they wouldn’t tell anyone when they’ve been scammed, or would try to handle it themselves.

Jessica Rowe with mum Penelope says talking about scams is a way to help slow down scammers: Picture Supplied

As part of its work to prevent scams, CBA has launched a campaign with television personality Jessica Rowe and her mum Penelope about the importance of chatting to family members around scams.

One moment that left Jessica particularly exposed was when she received what she thought was an invitation from US comedian and TV host Chelsea Handler for an interview.

“It all looked really legit: the email address they used, the artwork at the bottom of the email – all of these things,” she previously told Stellar.

But email communication with Ms Handler’s “team” got “fishier and fishier”, particularly when they started scheduling meetings that were not face-to-face.

After some investigation Jessica said she had been scammed by a common ploy perpetrators use to access social media accounts.

Jessica said it was important to openly talk about fraud and scams with loved ones.

“By sharing our experiences and supporting each other, we can create a safer environment for everyone,” she said.

“I’m thrilled to be part of a campaign that encourages these crucial conversations and empowers Aussies to protect themselves and their families.”

Her mother Penelope also was almost a victim of a scam after a close personal friend’s number came up on her phone with a text that started with “Hi Pen”, something she said very few people called her.

Commonwealth Bank say talking with loved one can help with scammers. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Penelope felt uncomfortable with the uncharacteristic demanding replies asking her to hand over $500 worth of gift cards.

“Mum’s friend knows Mum doesn’t have $500 on hand, and she wouldn’t ask that,” Jessica said.

CBA head of group fraud James Roberts said education was one of the most important parts of fraud and scams prevention.

“The research shows older Australians feel particularly exposed to scams, so we hope this education campaign helps change that, and all Australians learn how to spot a scam and stay safe,” he said.

“Our campaign ambassadors, Jess Rowe and her mum Penelope, embody the importance of open family conversations and reflect exactly what we are encouraging all Australians to – talk to their loved ones about scams, share knowledge and protect each other,” Mr Roberts said.

CBA’s campaign comes as Australians were among the most scammed people in the world. In 2023, the ACCC said Australians lost $2.74bn to scams at $100 per head. The number of reported scams fell by 17.8 per cent in 2024.

This is compared to $45 per person in the UK and $34 per head in the UK.

Originally published as Australians urged to speak up if they have been a victim of a scam