Australian Federal Police scam message examples
Example scam messages
A caller introducing himself as a 'sergeant with the Australian Federal Police' says a warrant has been issued for your arrest over unpaid fines, and that officers will attend your address today unless you clear the matter immediately by buying Apple gift cards and reading out the codes. He warns you not to tell anyone or the warrant will be 'executed on the spot'.
What gives it away:
- The AFP says being asked to purchase gift cards is a tell-tale sign of a scam, and that it won't seek payment for fines or other matters over the phone
- A demand for secrecy keeps you from checking; the AFP says some people who spoke to family or friends realised they were being scammed before handing over any funds
- A same-day deadline is a reason to slow down; the AFP says not to follow a suspected scammer's instructions, keep them on the line or call them back on the number they used
The caller ID matches a published AFP number. The 'officer' says your identity has been linked to money laundering, transfers you to a 'supervisor' for authenticity, then instructs you to move your savings out of your account and to keep the line open while you do it so the 'magistrate' can confirm receipt.
What gives it away:
- A matching caller ID proves nothing; the AFP says scammers have mimicked an AFP number, so hang up and look up the AFP switchboard number for your capital city yourself
- The staged hand-off to a 'supervisor' or 'magistrate' is theatre designed to manufacture authority
- The AFP says police won't ask you to move money to a 'safe account'; an instruction to move your savings out of your account is how the theft happens
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact Australian Federal Police through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Australian Federal Police message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of Australian Federal Police impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine Australian Federal Police messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through Australian Federal Police's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake Australian Federal Police message from a genuine one?
The AFP says it won't call, email or contact you through social media to threaten arrest, demand money or ask for personal details. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.