Australians Experienced over 200K Scams in 2020 Costing Over A$176 Million



Australia Phishing AttacksNew data from the Australian government’s Scamwatch site shows that phishing and vishing topped the list of scam types used to trick Australians into becoming a scam’s next victim.

Rarely do you get to see a breakdown of all scams reported to a government entity. But the Scamwatch site, hosting by the Australian government helps paint a picture of exactly what kinds of scams are being experienced by everyday people.

According to the data:

  • Phishing is the top scam category representing a little more than 20% of all scams
  • Phishing rose by 75% when compared to 2019
  • The months with the most phishing attacks were at the height of the pandemic in 2020 in the months of September and October
  • The use of email, phone, text, mobile app, Internet, and social networking as “attack” mediums point to the use of social engineering as part of these scams – something we’ve seen occurs in 98% of all cyberattacks.

The use of phishing, vishing, and SMiShing – along with social engineering tactics – has long proven to be a viable method of seeing scams and cyber attacks successful. The reported scams mirror what organizations are seeing in 2020 and into this year – phishing remains top of mind for cybercriminals as *the* most viable means to get in front of your users, and social engineering tactics aren’t going anywhere, as they are the gateway to establishing credibility, creating a sense of urgency, and getting the victim to act in the attackers best interest.


Free Phishing Security Test

Would your users fall for convincing phishing attacks? Take the first step now and find out before bad actors do. Plus, see how you stack up against your peers with phishing Industry Benchmarks. The Phish-prone percentage is usually higher than you expect and is great ammo to get budget.

PST ResultsHere's how it works:

  • Immediately start your test for up to 100 users (no need to talk to anyone)
  • Select from 20+ languages and customize the phishing test template based on your environment
  • Choose the landing page your users see after they click
  • Show users which red flags they missed, or a 404 page
  • Get a PDF emailed to you in 24 hours with your Phish-prone % and charts to share with management
  • See how your organization compares to others in your industry

Go Phishing Now!

PS: Don't like to click on redirected buttons? Cut & Paste this link in your browser:

https://www.knowbe4.com/phishing-security-test-offer

Topics: Phishing



Subscribe to Our Blog


Comprehensive Anti-Phishing Guide




Get the latest about social engineering

Subscribe to CyberheistNews