Fake job scams luring South Australians into money laundering

New ScamWatch data shows South Australians have reported hundreds of job and employment scams in the past financial year, with losses exceeding one million dollars and individual victims losing as much as one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Offenders are disguising criminal activity as flexible online work, often advertised through social media, text messages or direct approaches, and victims are being asked to open new bank accounts, receive deposits or transfer money between accounts.

Sergeant David Mitchell from the Cybercrime Training and Prevention Section said scammers are targeting people who are simply looking for extra income or remote work.

“Offenders are presenting what looks like a legitimate job, but the work is really just transferring money between accounts,” he said.

“Once a victim moves that money, they have unknowingly become part of a laundering chain and the consequences can be significant.”

Sergeant Mitchell reminds South Australians that scammers deliberately exploit trust, fear and urgency.

“People should never feel embarrassed about being targeted. The sooner we know, the sooner we can act.”

This year’s Scams Awareness Week theme, ‘No one’s just a number’, reinforces the message that every victim matters and every report helps prevent further harm.

SAPOL’s 2026 campaign has highlighted the most damaging and emerging scam trends affecting South Australians, including investment scams, online image abuse and marketplace scams. These scams continue to cause significant financial and personal harm, with offenders using increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims.

South Australia Police continues to see other high impact scams affecting the community, including romance scams, assistance scams and payment redirection scams targeting small businesses.

SAPOL encourages South Australians to pause before acting, verify contact independently, avoid unusual payment methods and speak with trusted friends or family when something feels wrong.

Early reporting through ReportCyber remains one of the most effective ways to limit harm and support investigations. People can also attend their local police station to make a report in person.

SAPOL’s dedicated Cybercrime Investigation Section continues to expand its capability to investigate complex online offending, including tracing cryptocurrency transactions.

Sergeant Mitchell said anyone who has transferred money or shared information should contact their bank immediately and report the matter, as early action can make a significant difference.

Victims of scams or online abuse can seek further assistance through:

• eSafety Commissioner – www.esafety.gov.au
• Victims of Crime SA – www.voc.sa.gov.au
• Lifeline – 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
• Rebuild Victim Counselling – www.rasa.org.au