The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) 'Scamwatch' data for November indicates money lost to all types of scams rose 20.2% to $18.7 million compared to October.

This is despite the number of scams falling 16.3% to 22,122 over the month.

According to Scamwatch data, Australians lost nearly $9.5 million to investment scams in November, followed by $3.2 million to dating & romance scams.

The rate of fraud among CommBank merchant customers has fallen 15% in the past year, to just 47.3c per $1,000 during the April to June quarter 2020.

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Rates
Features
Conditions
Other
Provider
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure

Savings Account

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
More details
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
More details
Disclosure
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure

Save Account

  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
More details
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money

AMP Saver Account

  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
More details
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure

Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
More details
Disclosure
  • Increase your balance by $200 each month to earn the maximum interest
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
  • Interest paid monthly

More details
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of November 21, 2024. View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Despite the reduction in card fraud, CommBank's general manager of merchant solutions Sam Itzcovitz has warned against complacency.

“It’s promising to see fraud rates decline, but we know all businesses are still susceptible to fraud in this increasingly online world. It’s going to be a busy shopping season for many of our small business customers, and possibly a bit of a learning curve for those who accelerated their transition to online payments this past year," he said.

According to AusPayNet, 'Card Not Present' frauds accounted for 87.7% of all card frauds in the 12 months to 30 June 2020.

'Card Not Present' scams are when someone uses stolen card details to make a purchase over the phone, for example.

In terms of the number of scams, phishing was most prevalent, clocking up 4,905 scams over November.

Second was threats to life, arrest or other at 3,841, and identify theft came in third at 2,098.

Online shopping scams accounted for 1,512 scams, totalling $742,193.

Enterprise security company Proofpoint ANZ vice president Crispin Kerr warned shoppers to be vigilant over Christmas.

“All holidays and major events provide an unfortunate opportunity for scammers to capitalise on and this year will be no different. This is why it’s not surprising in the run up to Christmas to see larger amounts of money being lost, with scammers looking to cash in on the busiest time of the year," he said.

Nearly a third of all money lost in November belonged to people aged 55 to 64, while 29% belonged to those aged 65 and over. 

Combined, those aged 55 and older lost more than $9.7 million in November - up 78% from October.

This coincides with a few banks reporting elevated levels of credit card spending in the lead up to Black Friday Sales.

Mr Kerr said it was "disheartening to see" older Australians being targeted by scammers.

"Our advice this Christmas would be to employ the same level skepticism and awareness online that you would in any real-life business transaction," he said.

"With phishing returning to the number one spot as the most reported type of scam, people should continue to be wary of all unsolicited communications, especially those asking for sensitive information and remember that if it seems too good to be true it probably is.”