November, December. The final straight to the end of the calendar year and also the biggest spending season of the year. New research from Trend Micro has found that economic pressures and rising financial stress are making consumers more vulnerable to scams.

The global research, conducted by Trend Micro in August 2025 unpacked the experiences of 7,693 consumers across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, United States and United Kingdom. In Australia, 1035 respondents aged 18 and over responded.

  • 42% of Australian consumers have been targeted by a job scam, above the global figure (38%), and of those, 18% have fallen victim.
  • 29% of Australians have experienced a financial scam or fraud, underscoring how economic pressure is driving digital risk.
  • Half (50%) of Australians say their financial security or income has been negatively impacted over the past year, compared to 48% of consumers globally.
  • Furthermore, two in five (38%) are either “very concerned” or “extremely concerned” about the current economic climate and its impact on their financial security in the year ahead.

Economic pressure turns into digital vulnerability

As Australians continue to grapple with the cost of living, scammers are exploiting people’s need for extra income, using fake job offers and investment schemes to steal money and data.

Among those who have had their income negatively impacted over the past year:

  • 65% said their living expenses have increased
  • 13% said they lost their job or were laid off

More than half (56%) of Australians say they’ve received a text or email offering a job or a way to earn additional income. Of those:

  • 43% were contacted by someone who didn’t identify their company.
  • 37% heard from a company they didn’t recognise.
  • 68% were told they could earn good money by working just a few hours a day.
  • 77% were asked to contact them another way such as via a phone number, email, or on a messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram — a classic scam tactic used to avoid detection.

Almost one in four (23%) Australians responded to these messages, with nearly half (46%) of those who did saying they replied because they needed extra income. Yet, only 35% are currently earning money because of it, and only 25% are currently employed.

Of those who didn’t earn money from the contact, 40% said they were asked to invest their own funds.

Among the 18% of Australians who have been victimised by a job scam, 28% discovered the scam only after their account was hacked, and 27% after losing a significant amount of money.

“Job scams are among one of the most insidious forms of online fraud because they target people’s livelihoods,” said Ashley Millar, Trend Micro’s Director of Consumer Education. “When living costs rise and genuine job opportunities feel scarce, offers that promise a quick buck can look incredibly convincing. Scammers exploit that pressure, turning consumers’ search for financial stability into their biggest vulnerability.”

 

Discount desperation: the new scam goldmine

Australians’ search for better deals is also leading to riskier online behaviour. Many are clicking faster, trusting unfamiliar retailers, and overlooking red flags, creating new openings for scammers to exploit:

  • More than half (58%) of Australians say they feel the need to spend more time searching for the best deals compared to last year. Among those who feel this way, three in four (74%) do so because they are concerned about higher prices this year, and 13% say their budget is smaller.
  • 36% of shoppers almost always click, find out more or make a purchase when they see a good discount or promo online.
  • 23% typically click on the link first if they receive a text message offering a promo or discount.

Cutting corners on cyber safety

Despite growing awareness of online threats, one in five Australians (20%) admit they’ve disabled their antivirus or security software, either temporarily or permanently, to improve device performance.

Ashley Millar, Trend Micro’s Director of Consumer Education said: “When money’s tight, people are more likely to take risks, and that is exactly what scammers count on. The holiday shopping season, especially high-pressure moments like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is prime time for scams. Shoppers are rushed, distracted, and eager to save, which makes them more likely to click impulsively or ignore red flags. For cybercriminals, it’s the perfect storm.

“The best defence isn’t complicated. If a deal looks too good to be true, assume it is. Go directly to trusted websites, avoid clicking links directly from messages or ads, and always keep your security software switched on. A few extra seconds of caution can mean the difference between a genuine bargain and a costly mistake,” Millar added.