Cybercriminals are exploiting Australia’s national cybercrime reporting tool, ReportCyber, and posing as Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers in an elaborate scam targeting cryptocurrency users.
According to the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), scammers are illegally obtaining personal details — such as email addresses and phone numbers — and using them to lodge fake reports through ReportCyber to make their ruse appear legitimate.
In one case, a victim received a call from someone claiming to be from the AFP, who said their name had appeared in a cryptocurrency-related data breach. The scammer cited a genuine-looking ReportCyber reference number and directed the victim to verify it online, adding to the illusion of authenticity.
A second call then followed from a supposed representative of the cryptocurrency platform, urging the victim to transfer funds into a ‘Cold Storage’ account for “safekeeping”. The victim became suspicious and ended the call before losing any money.
AFP Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson warned that this scam’s sophistication lies in its convincing structure and use of official processes.
“These cybercriminals step through a process to verify the target’s personal information which may match common expectations,” she said.
“Because they move quickly from making the report to calling the target, they can create a sense of urgency.”
Det-Supt Andersson said the case demonstrated both the growing sophistication of online scams and the increasing cyber awareness among Australians who report such incidents.
“If you’re contacted about a ReportCyber report you didn’t lodge or authorise, hang up immediately and notify ReportCyber or call 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371),” she advised.
“Legitimate law enforcement officers will never ask for access to your cryptocurrency accounts, wallets, seed phrases, or banking information.”
The AFP reiterated that ReportCyber remains a safe and secure platform for reporting online crimes, and every report helps authorities track offenders and build intelligence on emerging cyber threats.
The JPC3 continues to work with industry and international partners to disrupt cybercriminal activity and protect Australians from financial and digital harm.
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