CBA warns young Aussies of fake job and dating scam losses

Commonwealth Bank has warned that Australians aged 24 and under are increasingly being targeted by scammers using fake job offers designed to gain access to victims' bank accounts.

Reports of job and employment scams from young Australians more than doubled in 2025 compared with 2024, rising 132%. Losses totalled more than $2.2 million, with females disproportionately affected.

The data suggests scammers are changing how they target younger people. Most victims said they were contacted online (44%), with text messages accounting for a further 38%.

Employment Angle

Scammers are using the language of flexible and casual work to lure students and young jobseekers, the bank said. The approaches often mimic genuine recruitment practices, with messages arriving via social platforms, messaging apps, or SMS.

James Roberts, the bank's executive general manager of fraud and scams, linked the rise to seasonal job-search activity among students and younger workers.

"It's a new year for students and a time many are looking for work. What we're seeing is scammers posing as employers and offering flexible or casual roles, then asking young people to receive money or move funds as part of the job. Many don't realise their bank account is being used without their knowledge to help move proceeds of crime."

The description aligns with patterns seen in so-called money mule recruitment, where criminals persuade people to move funds through their accounts. The task is framed as administrative work, payment processing, or a commission-based side gig. In some cases, victims are asked to share account access details. In others, they are told to accept incoming transfers and send them on.

Commonwealth Bank says it does not ask customers to provide banking credentials by email or text message, and does not include direct log-on links in such messages.

Digital Contact

The mix of online and text-based approaches reflects how younger Australians communicate and search for work. Recruiters increasingly use social channels and messaging to advertise roles and arrange interviews. Scammers exploit those same channels, copying the tone and formatting of legitimate job ads.

The figures also highlight mobile-first scam tactics. A message can push a recipient to respond immediately, share personal details, or follow instructions to transfer funds. Victims may never visit a traditional website, reducing the chance to spot inconsistencies.

The bank encouraged customers to use its app or navigate to its website directly via a browser search, rather than relying on links embedded in messages.

Relationship Scams

The bank also reported an increase in dating and relationship scams affecting young Australians, with reports up 40% in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Males made up 85% of reports, while females accounted for 74% of total losses, according to the bank's data.

The gap between reporting volumes and financial losses reflects a common feature of relationship scams. Victims can face prolonged grooming and repeated payment requests via bank transfers, card payments, or digital wallets. Criminals often cite fabricated emergencies or claims about travel and medical costs.

The warning comes amid heightened attention on scam prevention across the financial sector. Banks have increased investment in detection systems and customer education, while mobile operators and online platforms face pressure to reduce scam content and disrupt text and messaging campaigns.

The bank's advice focuses on verifying any request to move money or provide account access, particularly when framed as a condition of employment. It also urged customers to treat unsolicited messages with caution, especially those that demand urgent action or request sensitive information.

Students and young Australians are urged to be wary of roles offering quick pay with minimal requirements, followed by instructions to receive funds and transfer them elsewhere.