Think of ClickFit like road safety for online investments
STOP your scroll
CHECK before you invest
PROTECT your savings
ClickFit: Investment Scams
Being ClickFit helps you make safe investment decisions online.
Investment scams are designed by criminals to steal money, often through fake stock platforms, celebrity endorsements, or cryptocurrency schemes. Scammers typically promise high returns with little risk and rely on urgency because the faster you act, the faster they can take your money.
This is why being ClickFit is so important to help Australians invest safely and recognise the warning signs of investment scams.
It looks like everyone is making a lot of money these days on social media, news stories, online ads. Stories of ordinary people turning small investments into big returns are everywhere. And this is what scammers want you to believe.
How do investment scams work?
It usually begins with an online ad or social media post. Once a person clicks or sign up, they are contacted via message, phone, email, or social media to invest. After an initial investment or even free trial, they are given access to a platform or shown account images where they appear to see profits. However, the platform and profits are completely fake.
Over time, victims are pressured to invest more and may be told to pay taxes or fees to access or unlock profits. Then, without warning, funds or crypto are taken and their account is blocked.
The victim loses everything. But the impact doesn’t stop there.
Investment scams can cause long-lasting harm to retirement savings, superannuation, family, health, and emotional wellbeing.
Are you ClickFit to invest?
Introducing these six simple habits into your online routine can help protect your savings from investment scams
- Stop before you send money
If you’re being pressured to act fast, it’s a red flag. Real investments don’t disappear overnight. Hang up. Don’t reply. Slow down.
- Check their financial licence
Before investing, search ASIC’s register to confirm the person or business holds a valid Australian Financial Services Licence.
- Protect yourself
Always get a second opinion. Talk to your bank (via their official number), an ASIC-registered financial adviser, trusted friends or family before investing.
- Verify independently
Never use the contact details, websites or apps you receive. Find the official contact details yourself.
- Don't trust the hype
Watch out for guaranteed returns, “low-risk” opportunities, celebrity endorsements, crypto buzzwords, and even video or audio clips — they’re all red flags.
- Never pay to unlock profits
Scammers may show fake profits on a dashboard or app to gain your trust. Real investments don’t require extra payments to release your money.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of an investment scam:
Support is available — you’re not alone
Follow these steps:
- Stop all contact with the scammer
- Contact your bank immediately to block transactions or access to your bank account/credit cards
- Report the scam to police via ReportCyber
- Talk to someone you trust
- Get support from services such as:
- Moneysmart (ASIC)
- IDCARE
- Free financial counselling services
Support is confidential, and help is available.
Download the ClickFit Stakeholder Kit for campaign assets
ClickFit is a national cybercrime prevention campaign by the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre.
