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Australian Stories

Victim support stories

AI voice cloning scams cost Australians AUD $25.8m
Phishing

AI voice cloning scams cost Australians AUD $25.8m

AI voice cloning scams have already cost Australians AUD $25.8m in 2025, as experts warn lifelike fake calls are outpacing public awareness.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Cumberland City Council donates phones to aid domestic violence victims
Health Technologies

Cumberland City Council donates phones to aid domestic violence victims

Cumberland City Council has donated 45 refurbished phones to help domestic violence victims connect with support services and seek safety.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Fri, 4th Jul 2025
Optus launches free Escape Bags to support domestic abuse victims
Unified Communications

Optus launches free Escape Bags to support domestic abuse victims

Optus teams with charity Escabags to provide free Escape Bags, including SIM cards, across Australia for domestic abuse victims seeking safety and support.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Wed, 28th May 2025

Global Stories

Victim support stories

Generative AI fuels alarming surge in intimate image abuse
Data Protection

Generative AI fuels alarming surge in intimate image abuse

Generative AI is fuelling a sharp rise in intimate image abuse, outpacing weak platform responses and patchy global legal protections.

By Theodora Skeadas • 4 min read • Tue, 3rd Mar 2026
AI turns romance scams into industrial-scale fraud
Phishing

AI turns romance scams into industrial-scale fraud

AI is turning romance scams into industrial-scale fraud, with deepfakes and chatbots driving billions in losses, Tenable warns.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Wed, 11th Feb 2026
AI-fuelled bank scams rise, impersonating officials with ease
Physical Security

AI-fuelled bank scams rise, impersonating officials with ease

A recent report reveals that criminals are increasingly employing artificial intelligence to enhance bank scams, making them harder to detect.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Fri, 31st Jan 2025
Sextortion scams surge with personal data to extort money
Malware

Sextortion scams surge with personal data to extort money

New Barracuda research reveals a surge in personalised sextortion attacks, where cybercriminals leverage victims' personal data for increased blackmail pressure.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Mon, 18th Nov 2024

Stories from Other Regions

Victim support stories

Cyber centre Scotland delivers £3 million support boost
Data Protection

Cyber centre Scotland delivers £3 million support boost

Charities, small firms and fraud victims across Scotland got more than GBP £3 million in cyber support as the centre reinvested profits.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last month
Cyber crime surges faster than police staffing in England
Ransomware

Cyber crime surges faster than police staffing in England

Businesses and victims face longer waits as fraud and computer misuse offences have outpaced specialist police staffing by 57 percentage points since 2020.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Wed, 1st Apr 2026
Romance scam losses exceed £106m as Valentine's Day approaches
Fintech

Romance scam losses exceed £106m as Valentine's Day approaches

UK romance scam losses top GBP £106m as organised fraudsters exploit Valentine's surge, with average victims losing more than GBP £11,000.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Thu, 12th Feb 2026
'One part terrified, one part really angry' - Assault victim's anger over Manage My Health hack
Data Protection

'One part terrified, one part really angry' - Assault victim's anger over Manage My Health hack

A sexual assault survivor says she feels re‑victimised and furious after the Manage My Health hack and US$60,000 ransom demand.

By Lauren Crimp • 3 min read • Thu, 8th Jan 2026
SHE Symposium tackles AI gender norms & online harms
EduTech

SHE Symposium tackles AI gender norms & online harms

The 2025 SHE Annual Symposium in Singapore addresses the vital intersection of AI and gender norms, focusing on enhancing women's safety online and offline.

By Moritz Florian • 4 min read • Mon, 24th Feb 2025
New Zealand digital scams cost exceed NZD $2.3 billion
Email Security

New Zealand digital scams cost exceed NZD $2.3 billion

A report reveals that digital scams cost New Zealanders over NZD $2.3 billion in 2024, with online shopping scams now the most prevalent.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Tue, 19th Nov 2024
Netsafe warns of inadequate response to rising online fraud
EduTech

Netsafe warns of inadequate response to rising online fraud

The Ministry of Justice's latest crime survey reveals a surge in online fraud, highlighting an urgent need for a coordinated multi-agency response, says Netsafe.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Tue, 2nd Jul 2024
Netsafe allies with CYBERA for enhanced scam recovery
Email Security

Netsafe allies with CYBERA for enhanced scam recovery

Netsafe forms a coalition with CYBERA, Dolla, and Akahu to aid New Zealanders in recovering funds lost to scams, targeting banking, crypto, and telecom sectors.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Thu, 14th Mar 2024
Netsafe reveals growing online harm for New Zealanders
Health Technologies

Netsafe reveals growing online harm for New Zealanders

Netsafe's 2023 research reveals a sharp rise in harmful digital communications experienced by New Zealanders, with almost half of the Māori population and many under 30 falling victim.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Fri, 29th Dec 2023
The Cyber Helpline and ExpressVPN help cybercrime victims
Not for profit

The Cyber Helpline and ExpressVPN help cybercrime victims

ExpressVPN and The Cyber Helpline have partnered to offer free VPN accounts to victims of cybercrime and online abuse to ensure a safe online experience.

By Kaleah Salmon • 3 min read • Mon, 17th Jul 2023