Following warnings by Home Affairs last week, which highlighted that scammers might provide fake authentication and ask for personal information, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA) has reiterated that the ABS will never ask for bank details, passwords or identity documents.
Now, Vice President, Consumer Education & Marketing Communications at TrendLife Lynette Owens has outlined why census time is a magnet for scammers and what Australians should look out for.
“The Australian scam landscape is dominated by impersonation scams where criminals pose as trusted organisations. The upcoming Census gives criminals an opportunity to pose as a government organisations, to direct victims to convincing lookalike websites designed to steal login credentials, card details and two-factor authentication codes,” she said.
“The impending deadline to complete the census creates the perfect storm for scammers. They know that if they create a sense of urgency around a familiar institution and direct people to a convincing lookalike site, people will often act before stopping to verify the request.
“Thanks to AI eliminating spelling errors and design flaws, it’s also getting harder to recognise that these websites are fake, as the tell-tale signs we previously learned about are becoming less reliable.
“To keep themselves safe, Australians should treat messages demanding immediate action, payment, or credential entry as suspicious, while also avoiding clicking links contained in these messages.
“They should also talk to someone when something doesn’t seem right. Get a friend or family member to give their opinion, as they may be able to see the communication from a clearer perspective or be more tech-savvy than you. Scammers want you to act alone and act quickly, so taking a few extra moments to verify a request can often be the difference between avoiding a scam and becoming a victim.”
The 2026 Australian Census takes place today, August 11, 2026, and can be completed now. Most households will receive a letter with a unique login to complete the Census online, but paper and phone questions can be requested. Ensure that you use the official ABS Census website, which can be found here.
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