Almost 16,000 scam reports were made to Scamwatch by people with disability in 2025, according to the National Anti-Scam Centre’s latest annual Targeting Scams report.
Among reports where money was lost, around two-thirds (66 per cent) involved online contact – including through the internet, mobile apps, social media and online forums.
For people who are blind or have low vision, some of the visual warning signs of a scam may be less accessible.
Vision Australia reports people using screen readers experience online content through audio, meaning visual warning clues such as unusual layouts, logos or formatting may not be as easy to identify.
Chris Edwards, Vision Australia Chief Mission Officer, said: “More and more banking, shopping and other transactions are happening digitally and that’s no different for people who are blind or have low vision and we want to make sure that our community can do that independently and be confident they’re safe when doing so.”
CommBank fraud and scams expert Shannon Brown recently joined Vision Australia for a podcast to discuss how scammers use timing, familiarity and urgency to make their approaches feel convincing – and some practical ways to help interrupt a scam.
“It’s important to understand that people who are blind or have low vision can access digital information and platforms but may just do that in a different manner to others. While they may not rely on visual cues such as how a website is designed or an email is formatted to identify a scam or other cyber security threat, there are plenty of proactive techniques they can learn to stay safe online,” Mr Edwards added.
Looking beyond the visual warning signs
While some visual signs of a scam may be less accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, there are other warning signs everyone can look out for.
These can include how an approach makes you feel or behave – such as creating urgency, pressure or a sense of familiarity.
For example, you’re waiting for a parcel.
A text arrives saying there’s a problem with the delivery.
It feels legitimate because it has landed at exactly the right moment.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the scammer knows you’re expecting something.
Scammers can send messages to thousands of people at once. They don’t need everyone to respond. They only need to reach a small number of people at a moment when the message happens to make sense.
It could be a parcel when you’re expecting a delivery. A toll notice after you’ve been driving. Or a message from your ‘bank’ when you’ve just made a payment.
Ms Brown said scammers know their approach may eventually reach someone at just the right moment.
“Scammers are trying to target circumstance, and they are looking to target people who are busy and have a lot going on – and really exploit those moments of high stress, high workload or pressure,” Ms Brown said.
Recognising these behavioural warning signs can provide another reason to stop and check, rather than relying only on how genuine a message looks.
A scam message that feels surprisingly personal or well-timed may simply have reached you at a moment when its story made sense.
Trust and urgency can be warning signs
Some warning signs aren’t visual. How someone is trying to make you feel or act can also be a signal that something isn’t right.
Scammers don’t always start by immediately asking for money.
They can spend time making an interaction feel legitimate and building trust, while also creating pressure to act.
Ms Brown said familiarity and urgency can both influence how people respond.
“Urgency adds pressure to a situation. Familiarity can help lower our guard, so we’re more likely to skip past steps of verifying and move into decision-making or problem-solving. Paired together, it’s a really valuable tool for scammers,” Ms Brown said.
There might supposedly be a problem with your account. Your parcel can’t be delivered. Your money is at risk. And you’re told you need to act now.
Pressure to act quickly can itself be a reason to stop and check
Whether you’re reading something on screen, listening through a screen reader or answering a phone call, don’t rely solely on how genuine the contact looks or sounds.
If someone unexpectedly contacts you claiming to be from your bank or another organisation, don’t use the phone number, link or contact details they’ve provided to verify who they are.
Instead, find the organisation independently through its official website or app and use the contact details provided there.
For people using screen readers, Vision Australia recommends taking particular care when checking who an email is really from. A small spelling change in an email address can be easy to miss when it is read aloud, so checking the full address character by character or using a Braille display can help identify differences.
CommBank’s advice is to Stop. Check. Reject.
Stop. Take a moment before sending money or sharing information.
Check. Independently verify who you’re dealing with using an official source. Keep trusted contact numbers saved and easy to access, and talk to someone if you are unsure.
Reject. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t proceed and stop contact.
Helping someone you care about
Family members, friends and carers can also be someone to stop and check with when an unexpected approach doesn’t feel right.
If someone you support receives an unexpected message, call or online approach, encourage them to take a moment before acting and talk through what has happened.
Where appropriate, you could help them independently find the organisation’s official contact details and contact it directly.
Approach the conversation without judgement. Scams are deliberately designed to feel urgent, familiar or convincing. Simply talking through what has happened can help interrupt that pressure and provide an opportunity to check whether the approach is genuine.
For carers or others authorised to assist with someone’s finances, unexpected transactions or unusual requests for money can also be a reason to stop and check.
Listen to the full conversation
Ms Brown joined Vision Australia to discuss how scammers build trust, why scam approaches can arrive at surprisingly convincing moments, and practical steps people can take to help protect themselves.
Listen to the episode by searching "We’re talking cybersecurity" wherever you listen to podcasts.
You can also hear more from Ms Brown at an upcoming Vision Australia webinar, where she’ll share practical advice on recognising and responding to scams. The webinar will run from 2:00pm – 3:00pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026. Register here.
