Leslie Massey
There are several ways to report illegal business activities in Australia, depending on the nature of the issue. The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) encourages consumers and businesses to report practices and behaviours that concern them, such as scams and unsafe products. ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) deals with reports of misconduct, including financial advisors providing unlicensed advice and financial services charging for services not provided. The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) accepts tip-offs relating to suspected wrongdoing, criminal misconduct, dishonesty, or fraud. Suspected fraud can also be reported directly to the relevant entity, such as Services Australia for Medicare, welfare, and child support fraud, or the ATO for tax or super fraud. Additionally, the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre provides information on where to report fraud, and Scamwatch allows individuals to report scams.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can report | Consumers and businesses |
| What to report | Business practices and behaviours that concern you |
| Where to report | ACCC, ASIC, Scamwatch, Australian Financial Security Authority, Australian Trade Commission, Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre, Austrade, IDCARE |
| How to report | Online forms, phone, in writing (including email), in person |
| What happens after reporting | The authority will investigate the issue and take necessary actions |
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What You'll Learn
Reporting misconduct to ASIC
ASIC, or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, is Australia's integrated corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit regulator. ASIC welcomes reports or tip-offs about misconduct under the laws it administers. By reporting misconduct to ASIC, you are helping the regulator detect serious misconduct and broader systemic problems in the financial system.
ASIC records the data from reports to help identify patterns, trends, and broader systemic problems that may require intervention. This includes detecting serious misconduct in the financial system and broader systemic problems. The regulator does not, however, resolve complaints, intervene in disputes, give legal advice, or act to get your money back.
ASIC receives reports of misconduct from consumers and small businesses with complaints about financial firms, such as banks, insurance companies, superannuation funds, or financial advisors. If you are unhappy with the response from the firm's internal dispute resolution area, you can report the issue to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). AFCA's services are free of charge.
ASIC also provides information on its website about common issues and links to information that may help. This includes information on the following:
- Trading on the financial market
- Investments
- Borrowing money
- Superannuation and insurance
- Banks
- Investment scams
- Registered liquidators
- Illegal phoenix activity
- Whistleblowing
- Running of companies
- Business loans
- Debt collectors
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Report a scam
If you have been scammed, there are several actions you can take to report it. Firstly, it is important to cease all contact with the scammer and block them. You should also report the scam to your bank or financial institution and ask them to stop any transactions. If you have been a victim of identity theft, contact IDCARE at 1800 595 160. They are a national identity and cyber support service that can help you reduce harm from identity compromise.
You can also report the scam to Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC). They collate information about all scam types to warn and protect the public and send this information to other agencies to help stop scammers. If your scam is related to a financial or investment scam, you can also report it to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
If your scam is related to a business doing something it shouldn't, you can report it to the ACCC. They encourage consumers and businesses to report business practices and behaviours that concern them. They do not make any formal decisions on whether a business has breached the law but will respond to reports when they have information that may help.
For investment scams, you can also report to ASIC, which regulates corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit in Australia. They record the data from reports to detect serious misconduct and broader systemic problems in the financial system.
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Report fraud
If you suspect that fraud is being committed against you, there are several organisations you can report it to, depending on the type of fraud. Here are some of the most common types of fraud and the relevant reporting agencies:
- Medicare, welfare, and child support fraud: Report to Services Australia.
- Tax or Super fraud: Report to the ATO (Australian Taxation Office).
- Health or Aged Care Provider fraud: Report to the Department of Health.
- Child Care Provider fraud: Report to the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme fraud: Report to the National Disability Insurance Agency.
- Visa scams: Report to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Veterans' entitlements fraud: Report to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
- Passport fraud: Report to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Scams or fraud related to emails, online, or telephone: Report to Scamwatch.
- Financial/investment scams or fraud: Report to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
If you are unsure which organisation to report to, you can also contact your local state or territory police on 131 444 or the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN). Additionally, if your life is in danger, call 000 for emergency services.
It is important to provide as much detail as possible when reporting fraud, such as screenshots, emails, or other relevant information. This helps the relevant authorities investigate and take action on your report.
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Report a breach of Australian Consumer Law
If you believe a business is doing something illegal, you can report it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC encourages consumers and businesses to report practices and behaviours that concern them. You can report a consumer issue or make an enquiry using the ACCC's online form. You can also call the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
The ACCC does not make formal decisions on whether a business has breached the law, as only the courts can do this. However, they do accept and record reports of information about business practices and behaviours that are concerning. They respond to reports when they have information that may help, or if you have a question about your rights or obligations under the law.
The ACCC does not resolve individual complaints or provide legal advice on your rights and obligations under the law. They also do not comment on their investigations or any action they may take from the information provided in reports.
If you are a First Nations person or advocate and need to speak to the ACCC about a consumer or small business issue impacting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, you can call them on 1300 303 143.
If your issue concerns fraud, you can report it to the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre. If your issue concerns a data breach, you can refer to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
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Report a consumer issue
If you need to report a consumer issue in Australia, there are several options available to you.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) encourages consumers and businesses to report business practices and behaviours that concern them. You can contact the ACCC by phone on 1300 302 502 or 1300 302 021 for small business issues. They also have online forms for reporting consumer issues. The ACCC does not make formal decisions on whether a person or business has breached the law, but they can provide information about your rights and obligations under the law.
If your issue relates to fraud, you can report this directly to the relevant entity. For example, suspected Medicare, welfare, and child support fraud should be reported to Services Australia, while suspected tax or super fraud should be reported to the ATO. If your life is in danger, call 000.
For issues relating to financial complaints, you can contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) also handles reports of financial scams and fraud. ASIC is Australia's integrated corporate, markets, financial services, and consumer credit regulator.
For issues relating to specific telecommunications concerns, such as spam, online gambling, and complaints about TV and radio broadcasting standards, you can contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
If your issue is with a therapeutic good, medical device, or medicine, you can contact the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
You may also be able to resolve your issue through your local state and territory small claims tribunal, which can advise you on their dispute resolution process and how to lodge a claim.
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Frequently asked questions
You can report a scam to Scamwatch, especially if it is related to an email, online or telephone scam. You can also report a breach of Australian Consumer Law to the ACCC.
You can report suspected fraud directly to the relevant entity. For instance, suspected Medicare, welfare and child support fraud should be reported to Services Australia, while suspected Tax or Super fraud should be reported to the ATO. If you are a current or former public official, you can also raise your concerns through a Public Interest Disclosure (PID).
You can report suspected business misconduct to ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), especially if it involves financial advisors providing advice without a license or a financial service charging for services not provided. You can also report business practices and behaviours that concern you to the ACCC.
