Police warn of scammers posing as AFP officers in crypto fraud
Scammers exploit legitimate government systems to create fake credibility, urging victims to transfer crypto to fraudulent accounts.
Cybercriminals are exploiting Australia’s national cybercrime reporting platform, ReportCyber, to trick people into handing over cryptocurrency. The AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) warns scammers are posing as police and using stolen data to file fake reports.
In one recent case, a victim was contacted by someone posing as an AFP officer and informed that their details had been found in a data breach linked to cryptocurrency. The impersonator provided an official reference number, which appeared genuine when checked on the ReportCyber portal.
A second caller, pretending to be from a crypto platform, then urged the target to transfer funds to a so-called ‘Cold Storage’ account. The victim realised the deception and ended the call before losing money.
Detective Superintendent Marie Andersson said the scam’s sophistication lay in its false sense of legitimacy and urgency. Criminals verify personal data and act quickly to pressure victims, she explained. However, growing awareness within the community has helped authorities detect such scams sooner.
Authorities are reminding the public that legitimate officers will never request access to wallets, bank accounts, or seed phrases. Australians should remain cautious, verify unexpected calls, and report any suspicious activity through official channels.
The AFP reaffirmed that ReportCyber remains a safe platform for genuine reports and continues to be a vital tool in tracking and preventing cybercrime nationwide.
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