Cryptocurrency scammers have been impersonating Australian police officers and exploiting government systems to coerce victims into handing over their digital assets, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported Thursday.
According to the AFP, the scammers used ReportCyber, the local cybercrime reporting tool, to submit fake reports about their targets. They later contacted victims, posing as police, and directed them to check the report on official government websites—giving their claims an air of legitimacy.
In one incident, scammers told the victim that a representative from a crypto company would contact them to further verify the situation. The second caller then attempted to convince the target to transfer funds from their platform wallet to the scammers’ wallet.
“Thankfully the target became suspicious and hung up,” the AFP noted, highlighting the importance of vigilance against such schemes.
A Game of Pretend: Scammers Mimic Police to Target Crypto Holders
AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson explained that the scammers falsely claimed an individual had been arrested and that the victim was identified in a crypto-related investigation. She noted that the verification steps used by the fraudsters often mirrored legitimate law enforcement procedures, making the scheme highly convincing to some victims.
Andersson highlighted that these incidents are part of a broader trend of increasingly sophisticated scams. She urged Australians to exercise caution online and warned:
“If you’re contacted by someone regarding a ReportCyber report you didn’t submit or authorize, terminate the call immediately and notify ReportCyber.”
“Also bear in mind legitimate law enforcement officials will never request access to your cryptocurrency accounts, wallets, bank accounts, cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases, or any personal information relating to your financial accounts.”
Australia Intensifies Crackdown on Crypto Crime
In late October, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced that it had successfully cracked a coded cryptocurrency wallet backup containing 9 million AUD ($5.9 million), believed to be the proceeds of criminal activity.
Earlier, in late August, Australia’s markets regulator expanded its campaign against online scams, having shut down 14,000 scams since July 2023, with over 3,000 cases involving cryptocurrency.
In July, authorities in Tasmania discovered that the top 15 users of crypto ATMs in the state had all fallen victim to scams, suffering combined losses of $1.6 million. These cases underscore Australia’s ongoing efforts to combat crypto-related fraud and protect consumers.
