Scams Awareness Week is back from 25–29 August, and this year we’re building on the success of last year’s branch visits by taking our message even further into the community.
Last year, our team visited our branches to speak directly with Members about scams - how they happen, who they target and how to stay safe. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with Members sharing their own experiences and learning how to protect themselves and their loved ones.
This year, we’re continuing that momentum with an event designed to open up the conversation, raise awareness and empower our community to take action.
What’s Happening This Year?
Our team will be hosting “Tea and Tips: Staying Safe from Scams” - a special event on Tuesday 26 August from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm at the East Maitland Bowling Club.
Members are invited to come along for a cuppa and hear from our CEO Mark Williams and a panel of experts as they share insights into common scams and how to avoid them. Our panel of experts will include:
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Tamar MacDonald - Head of Financial Crimes, The Mutual Bank
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Giselle Lindley - Head of Financial Crimes, Indue
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Roger Darvall-Stevens - Partner, Fraud & Forensic Science, RSM Australia
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Andrew Connelly - Director, Fraud & Forensic Science, RSM Australia
Our Financial Crimes Team will be available to chat, answer questions and hand out resources like the Little Black Book of Scams and our handy scam prevention fridge magnets.
Why It Matters
Australians lost $2 billion to scammers in 2024. The good news is the amount lost has dropped from the previous year which the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Targeting Scams Report attributes to the growing impact of coordinated efforts by government, industry, law enforcement and community organisations to disrupt scam operations and protect consumers.
The top five scam types in the report were investment, romance, payment redirection, remote access and phishing scams, which jointly accounted for more than 70 per cent of the total combined losses.
By sharing stories and starting conversations, we can help others spot scams before they happen. We want our Members to feel confident, informed, and supported.
How You Can Get Involved
Attend our Tea and Tips event – RSVP by Friday 22 August or by calling us on 1300 688 825.
Stop. Check. Protect. – use this simple message to stay scam-aware
Share your story – talking about scams helps others avoid them.
We’re proud to be part of this national campaign and invite all Members to join us in protecting our community.
