Australia Warns Scammers Exploit Cybercrime System to Steal Crypto

• Criminals misuse ReportCyber to impersonate police and target crypto holders.
• Scammers use fake reports and spoofed calls to push fraudulent wallet transfers.
• Australia strengthens oversight as crypto-related fraud and risks escalate.

Australian authorities have issued a warning after uncovering a coordinated scam in which criminals manipulate the country’s national cybercrime reporting platform to impersonate federal police and pressure victims into handing over cryptocurrency.

The scheme, which relies on filing fraudulent reports using stolen personal details, has raised concerns about how scammers are leveraging legitimate processes to deceive Australians during a period of heightened regulatory action against crypto-related fraud.

According to a statement from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), offenders have been submitting false ReportCyber entries using victims’ information, then contacting those individuals while posing as AFP officers. Detectives stated that the approach appears convincing because scammers quickly “verify personal information” and create a time pressure that aligns with common expectations of law enforcement interactions.

The AFP noted that the platform allows third-party reporting on behalf of victims, a function that scammers are now exploiting to establish credibility. Police outlined a recent case in which a victim received a call from someone claiming to be an AFP officer and was told their name appeared in a crypto-related data breach. The caller provided an authentic-looking ReportCyber reference number that matched the fraudulent submission the scammer had already filed.

Shortly after, a second caller impersonating a cryptocurrency platform used the same reference number to urge the victim to transfer funds to what was described as a secure cold storage wallet. The victim hung up before sending any money, prompting authorities to warn that similar cases have involved spoofed phone numbers resembling actual AFP lines.

Police Urge Verification and Caution

Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said Australians should remain cautious, check for inconsistencies, and avoid sharing sensitive information. Authorities stated that federal officers will never request access to crypto accounts, seed phrases, or banking details. Anyone contacted about a ReportCyber submission they did not file is advised to end the call immediately and reach the official hotline at 1300 CYBER1.

Andersson added that legitimate reports remain essential for tracking offenders and preventing additional victims.

Regulators Intensify Scrutiny of Crypto-Linked Crime

The warning emerges as Australia expands its enforcement footprint. Last month, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said forthcoming legislation will target crypto ATMs, calling them a “high-risk product” connected to money laundering and child exploitation.

In August, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission disclosed that 3,015 crypto scam sites were removed over two years, part of 14,000 fraudulent sites taken down. Earlier in July, AUSTRAC chief Brendan Thomas identified digital currencies as a major threat, describing new anti-money-laundering rules as the most extensive reforms in a generation.