The Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3) has launched ‘ClickFit’: a national awareness campaign designed to get Australians to stop their scroll, check the warning signs of scams, and protect themselves from cybercrime.
Think of 'ClickFit' as a road-safety campaign for the internet: every online user is being urged to slow down, swerve around scam links, emails, and messages, and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. The campaign promotes safe online behaviour, helps people recognise scams, encourages incident reporting, and supports stronger cyber protection measures.
Recent findings suggest too many Australians are not adopting necessary safety measures online and too few are reporting incidents to police when targeted by cybercriminals, with reporting rates in 2024 ranging from 8% for malware to 22% for fraud and scams. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology’s Cybercrime in Australia 2024 report, many victims believed their experience was not serious enough to report or that nothing could be done. Every cybercrime report helps police track criminals, shut down their networks, assist in building intelligence on emerging cyber threats, and prevent other people from being targeted.
AFP Acting Commander of Cybercrime Operations Marie Andersson said the message for digital consumers was clear – the online world was incredible, but it was important to develop cyber tools and skills to navigate it confidently and safely.
“Research shows our online habits directly impact our risk profile and many Australians overlook simple steps to stay secure online, which can prevent their victimisation,” Acting Commander Andersson said.
Real examples:
In a recent case investigated by Tasmania Police, a man lost more than $400,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam – despite advice from his bank and police. Acting Commander Andersson said this demonstrated just how convincing and persistent scammers could be.
In another case, a mother reported to South Australia Police that she booked a family holiday for four through an online advertisement that appeared reputable, even checking the business had an ABN. However, after paying thousands of dollars for flights and accommodation, she arrived at her destination only to discover the hotel did not exist.
Despite Australians rating their tech knowledge highly, many fail to use basic protections such as strong passphrases, multi-factor authentication and regular software updates – a critical gap ClickFit aims to close.
Why ClickFit matters
Research shows that unsafe online behaviours can significantly increase the risk of being targeted by cybercriminals. However, there are good habits ahead - if you introduce just six steps into your everyday digital routine, this will help protect you from cybercrime, scams, and keep you safe online. This is how you become 'ClickFit'.
Get ClickFit:
- Create strong and unique passphrases for every account.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication. This adds an extra lock on your accounts, even if your password is stolen.
- Install software updates on phones, apps, and computers to close security gaps.
- Stay alert to emerging scams and cybercrime trends.
- Stop and think before you click. Criminals rely on urgency and distraction. Don't rush.
- Verify the source before you click, call or pay. Call or check directly with the legitimate organisation/trusted source before clicking on a link.
Take a moment to reflect on your online habits, have conversations with friends and family about scam safety, and help spread the message, are you ClickFit?
Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your bank account and/or personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical.
- If you have concerns about your account contact us immediately.
- You can report cybercrime directly to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
- Find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via Scamwatch.
As always, we remain committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page. For more information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
