The short answer
In Australia, report crypto fraud to the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s ReportCyber portal for cybercrime, Scamwatch for information on scam trends and prevention, and ASIC if the issue involves financial misconduct by an Australian company. These organizations use your reports to track threats and assist others, though they generally cannot recover individual funds or conduct personal investigations.
Reporting a crypto scam can feel overwhelming when there are multiple agencies involved. Each organization serves a specific purpose in the Australian regulatory and security landscape, and understanding where to submit your details is the first step in helping authorities combat these threats.
While submitting a report is essential for collective intelligence and potentially preventing others from being targeted, please be aware that no government agency in Australia can guarantee the recovery of your lost crypto-assets.
01ReportCyber: Managing Cybercrime
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) manages the ReportCyber portal. This is the primary channel for reporting cybercrime, including scams, online shopping fraud, and identity theft. When you lodge a report here, it is shared with state and federal police as part of a national policing initiative.
Use this if you have been targeted by a cyber-incident, such as unauthorized access to your wallet or a phishing attack.
Sources for this section[1] Australian Cyber Security Centre: getting help[2] Australian Cyber Security Centre: report
02Scamwatch: Anti-Scam Intelligence
Scamwatch is run by the ACCC and provides the National Anti-Scam Centre with information on scam trends. Reporting to Scamwatch helps the government understand how scammers are operating, which allows them to issue public warnings and disrupt scam infrastructure.
It is the right place to flag general scam tactics, such as fake giveaways or suspicious investment opportunities that you have encountered.
Sources for this section[3] ASIC Moneysmart: crypto scams[1] Australian Cyber Security Centre: getting help
03ASIC: Corporate and Financial Misconduct
ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) focuses on corporate, markets, and financial services regulation. If you believe an Australian-registered company is engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct—such as providing false investment advice or operating without a license—ASIC is the correct regulator to contact.
ASIC also maintains a list of banned financial advisers and provides educational resources via the Moneysmart website.
Sources for this section[3] ASIC Moneysmart: crypto scams[1] Australian Cyber Security Centre: getting help
04Why Report If Funds Can't Be Recovered?
Many victims feel discouraged because a report does not result in an immediate refund. However, reporting is vital. Your information helps authorities identify patterns, track the servers and domains used by scammers, and warn other potential victims in the community.
Without these reports, scammers can continue their activities with fewer disruptions. Collective action through reporting strengthens the overall defense against these online threats.
Sources for this section[2] Australian Cyber Security Centre: report[4] ASIC: follow-up recovery scams
05Submitting Your Information
When filing a report, ensure you provide factual, clear details without including sensitive, confidential, or unnecessary documentation. You should include:
1. The method of contact (email, social media, phone number). 2. The names of the entities or persons involved. 3. The dates and times of the interaction. 4. Screenshots showing the fraudulent activity. 5. Any wallet addresses the scammer provided for transfers.
Sources for this section[1] Australian Cyber Security Centre: getting help[2] Australian Cyber Security Centre: report
06Use one master record, but track each report separately
A practical report log can prevent confusion when several organisations receive the same information. Use fields such as organisation, submission date, official portal used, reference received and next action requested. Do not treat a reference from one service as confirmation that every other service has received your report.
For example, an initial outline could say: “On [date], I funded an exchange through [payment method], then sent [asset and network] to [public address]. The recipient website now refuses withdrawals and requests [additional payment].” Separate what the bank processed from what appeared on-chain. Keep transaction hashes and screenshots privately, and redact unrelated account details when supplying copies. This is a preparation template, not an official reporting form or proof that a crime occurred.
Sources for this section[2] Australian Cyber Security Centre: report[4] ASIC: follow-up recovery scams
Checklist
- If there is an immediate threat to life, call 000.
- Report cybercrime via the ReportCyber portal.
- Report the scam tactic to Scamwatch.
- Report financial misconduct by Australian firms to ASIC.
- Contact your bank if your financial account was used.
- Keep a record of your report submission numbers.
- Do not provide your private keys or passwords to any agency.
Questions people ask
Will ASIC or the police call me back to recover my money?
No. These agencies do not perform personal investigations or handle funds recovery for individual cases.
Can I report multiple scams in one form?
It is best to lodge separate reports if the scams involve different entities or platforms.
Is my report anonymous?
You can generally choose how much information to disclose, but provide accurate contact details if you wish for authorities to potentially follow up.
Safety boundaries
- No legitimate helper needs your seed phrase, private key, password, one-time code, remote access to your device or a wallet connection.
- Nobody can promise that funds will be recovered. Treat any guarantee, or any fee demanded to release funds, with suspicion.
- Find official contact details yourself, through the regulator, bank or platform website, not through a message or advert you received.
- This guide is general education. It is not legal, financial or tax advice and does not assess your situation.
If you want to organise your facts, the initial claim outline on our homepage collects only a short summary and contact details. It creates no client relationship and promises no outcome. Do not send documents or credentials.
Official sources
- [1]Australian Cyber Security Centre: getting help
Checked 4 October 2026 - [2]Australian Cyber Security Centre: report
Checked 4 October 2026 - [3]ASIC Moneysmart: crypto scams
Checked 4 October 2026 - [4]ASIC: follow-up recovery scams
Checked 4 October 2026
AI-assisted educational content published by Central Crypto Claim using the official sources listed below. No independent expert review is claimed. This is not legal, financial or tax advice.