Scam Awareness Week 2026

Scam Awareness Week by ScamWatch is a national campaign dedicated to helping Australians recognise, avoid, and report scams. Each year, it brings together government, businesses, community and consumer groups, educational organisations and individuals to raise awareness and strengthen the country’s collective defence against scammers. By working together, we can help ensure all Australians stay safe from scams. 

This year’s theme, no one is just a number, reminds us that behind every scam report is a parent, friend, neighbour, or colleague whose money, time, or trust has been stolen. Anybody can be scammed but there are three simple, memorable steps we can all take to stay safe. 

1. Stop – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone unless you’re sure they are legitimate. 

2. Check – Consider who you’re dealing with and ask yourself: could this text message, social media post or phone call be fake?

3. Protect – Act quickly if something doesn’t feel right. Report scams to Scamwatch to help protect others.

How to Protect Yourself 

Verify requests for money – If someone claims to be a relative in trouble, always contact them directly or check with other family members before sending money. 

Be sceptical of unsolicited offers – Never share personal or financial information with anyone you don’t know or trust. 

Monitor financial accounts – Regularly review bank and credit card statements for unauthorised transactions. Setting up account alerts can also help detect suspicious activity early. 

Report suspicious activity – Report scams to Scamwatch to help stop offenders and warn others. 

Right at Home’s Money Handling Policy 

At Right at Home, we recognise every client's right to independence, dignity, and control over their own finances. When a worker assists a client with shopping or other approved transactions, we do so transparently and in accordance with our policies to help protect clients from financial loss, misunderstandings or misuse of funds. 

We expect all care and office staff to uphold the highest standards when handling client money and to take reasonable steps to safeguard client funds from loss, theft, or financial abuse. Right at Home caregivers and office staff only handle a client’s money in accordance with our policies and when authorised to do so. We document any money handling in a client's care plan, and never accept financial gifts, loans, or personal benefits from spending a client's money. 

If you believe you’ve been the victim of fraud, report it to your bank or credit card provider immediately. If identity theft or criminal activity is involved, submit a police report. For concerns relating to elder abuse, contact the National Elder Abuse Helpline on 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374). 

Right at Home Australia is a leading provider of quality in-home care. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those we serve ensuring the Right Care, Right at Home™. We support people living with complex and post-operative care needs, dementia and cognitive decline, older Australians, and adults living with a disability including NDIS participants. Our tailored services help clients to remain safe and independent in their homes. We are an Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act, meaning we can provide government-funded support at home. We also offer private care for those who do not have government funding or who wish to pay privately for top-up care. Right at Home is all about you. We are available 24/7 so contact your local office today. You can also call our national number on 1300 363 802. 

This information is general in nature and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Please seek appropriate professional advice for your individual circumstances. Services are subject to availability and individual eligibility, including applicable funding criteria. Any examples or case studies are illustrative only. Individual experiences and outcomes may vary. Services are delivered by independently owned and operated franchisees under a franchise agreement with Homecare Group Pty Ltd. Experiences may vary by location. To the extent permitted by law, we exclude liability for reliance on this information. Nothing in this material excludes or limits your rights under Australian Consumer Law.

Right at Home Offices in Australia: ACT & Queanbeyan; ACT Canberra; Adelaide Central; Brisbane Bayside South; Brisbane North; Brisbane South; Brisbane West; Central Queensland & Wide Bay; Darling Downs; Far North Queensland; Geelong; Gold Coast North; Gold Coast South; Goldfields Grampians Murray; Gosford; Greater Logan; Hunter & Port Stephens; Ipswich Lockyer Valley; Kalgoorlie Wheatbelt; Macarthur Penrith; Mackay; Melbourne Berwick; Melbourne Brighton; Melbourne Frankston; Melbourne Glen Waverley; Melbourne North; Moreton Bay Region; Newcastle; Newcastle Toronto; Noosa, Gympie & Hinterland; North Queensland; Northern Rivers; Northern Territory; Perth Midland; Perth Northern Suburbs; Perth Rockingham & Armadale; Perth South; Perth South Eastern Suburbs; Perth West Coast; South West WA; Southern NSW; Southwest Victoria; Sunshine, Caloundra & Maleny; Sunshine, Maroochy & Nambour; Sydney Central & Eastern Suburbs; Sydney Five Dock; Sydney Inner West; Sydney Liverpool; Sydney Lower North Shore; Sydney Northern Beaches; Sydney Norwest; Sydney Parramatta; Sydney Randwick; Sydney Ryde; Sydney St George; Sydney Sutherland Shire; Sydney The Hills; Sydney Upper North Shore; Western NSW