Lions District 201N1

From sweeping plains to jewel seas

Scam Awareness & Community Protection

Resources · District 201N1

Scam Awareness & Community Protection

Scams cost Australians over $2 billion in 2024. The best defence is awareness and education — for yourself, your club members, and your community. This page brings together the key resources to help you recognise and respond to scams.

PDF Guide · Australian National Anti-Scam Centre

The Little Book of Scams (2024 edition)

Published by the Australian National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC). Available in English and 17 other languages.

What the guide covers

  • The most common scams to watch out for
  • How to defend against scams
  • The different ways scammers can contact you
  • Where to find help if you are targeted
  • The tools scammers use to deceive you
  • How to report a scam
  • The warning signs of a scam
  • Protecting your personal information

Stop · Check · Protect

The National Anti-Scam Centre's three-step framework for responding to any suspicious contact:

1

Stop

Don't rush. Scammers create a false sense of urgency to pressure you into acting before you think.

2

Check

Verify independently. Is the person contacting you who they claim to be? Call the organisation directly using a number you find yourself.

3

Protect

If something feels wrong, act quickly. Contact your bank and report it to Scamwatch before any more damage is done.

⚠ If you think you've been scammed — act immediately

  1. Contact your bank or card provider first — report the scam and ask them to freeze or reverse any transactions in progress.
  2. Call IDCARE — 1800 595 160 — Australia and New Zealand's free national identity and cyber support service. They will help you create a plan to limit the damage.
  3. Report to Scamwatch — visit scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam to report the incident and help protect others.
  4. Change your passwords — especially on accounts that may use the same or similar credentials, and run virus scans on all your devices.
Stay up to date with current scam alerts. The ACCC's Scamwatch website is updated regularly with new scam types, warnings, and advice. It's a valuable resource to check before any unusual contact or financial transaction — and for clubs to share with their communities.

↗ Visit scamwatch.gov.au

Sharing this with your community

Lions clubs are trusted community organisations — members are ideally placed to share scam awareness information with people who may be vulnerable. Consider:

  • Printing and distributing copies of the guide at club meetings and community events
  • Sharing the Scamwatch website link via your club's social media and newsletters
  • Raising awareness at zone meetings and encouraging other clubs to do the same
  • Referring community members who have been scammed to IDCARE (1800 595 160)