Australia · Reporting
Scamwatch or ReportCyber: which report should you make?
Compare Scamwatch and ReportCyber for Australian crypto scams. Learn why both may be relevant, what to prepare, and why reporting does not replace bank contact.
Published 4 October 2026 · Updated 4 October 2026 · AI-assisted educational content from Crypto Claim Advisors
The short answer
Scamwatch is for scam information and disruption. ReportCyber is a cybercrime-reporting route. A crypto scam involving theft or compromised accounts can make both relevant.
What Scamwatch contributes
Moneysmart describes Scamwatch as the National Anti-Scam Centre’s service for collecting scam reports. The information helps identify new methods, warn people, and support work to disrupt scammers. Reports may be shared with law enforcement and other organisations.
A report about a fake advertisement or attempted investment scam can be useful even if you did not pay. Include where you encountered it and the exact website or account involved. Avoid turning a report into a public accusation unsupported by evidence.
When crime reporting also matters
If money, identity details, or accounts were stolen, Moneysmart points people to local police or ReportCyber. Describe the theft or account compromise, not just the sales pitch. Include a timeline and any bank or exchange reference you already have.
Do not assume completing one form automatically completes every other report. Read the confirmation and save its reference. If you are uncertain about the route, use the official guidance rather than a recovery agent’s claim that they alone can access a special police portal.
Reporting cannot replace containment
Neither form replaces asking your payment provider to act on a recent payment. Contact the bank or exchange immediately through a genuine channel. Secure exposed email and account access, and get identity support where documents were shared.
Prepare one evidence folder that you can use across reports. Keep original messages and receipts, a list of actual payments, and a separate list of claimed profits or requested release fees. Update an existing case where the service allows it instead of losing track of repeated submissions.
Where to act in Australia
Contact the bank or crypto platform you used immediately through a genuine channel. Moneysmart recommends reporting scams to Scamwatch; fraud, theft, and cybercrime can also require local police or ReportCyber. Scamwatch collects information to identify and disrupt scams, rather than promising individual refunds. If identity documents were exposed, consider IDCARE support. Do not wait for one report to be processed before securing accounts.
Checklist
- Use official reporting pages.
- Report scam information to Scamwatch.
- Consider ReportCyber or police for fraud and theft.
- Contact your payment provider separately.
- Save confirmations and track updates.
Official sources
Linked for reference. They are not endorsements and we do not control their content.
- ASIC Moneysmart — Report an investment scam
Supports: Scamwatch, ReportCyber, financial institution contact, and identity protection.
- ASIC Moneysmart — What to do if you’ve been scammed
Supports: Payment-provider reporting, urgent protective steps, and support after fraud.
Common questions
Should I report if I sent no money?+
Yes. Scam information can help identify new threats even when you avoided a loss.
Does reporting guarantee an investigation or refund?+
No. The response depends on the facts, available evidence, and each organisation’s role.
Who wrote this. Published by Crypto Claim Advisors as AI-assisted educational content compiled from the official sources above. No named qualified human reviewer is claimed. Illustrations are AI-generated.
Education, not advice. This is not legal, financial or tax advice and recovery is never guaranteed. Crypto Claim Advisors has a commercial interest in claim reviews. Read the editorial policy.
