Australia has introduced new protections against SMS scams. Learn what "Unverified" means, why it appears on some text messages, and how to protect yourself from scammers.

From 1 July 2026, Australians will see a major change to text messaging designed to make scams easier to identify. New ACMA regulations require businesses to register their SMS Sender IDs, helping prevent scammers from impersonating trusted organisations such as Optus, Telstra, Australia Post, banks and government agencies. The changes provide an important new layer of protection, particularly for seniors and other frequent scam targets. Learn more in our latest blog...

Most Australians have spent years building an online presence. Family photos, messages, friendships, memories and milestones are often stored on Facebook. But have you ever considered what happens to your account after you die? For many families, dealing with digital accounts can be confusing and emotionally challenging during an already difficult time. Fortunately, Facebook provides options that allow users to plan ahead and make things easier for loved ones.

Tax time in Australia can feel stressful enough without scammers trying to take advantage of you. Unfortunately, every year, cyber criminals ramp up their efforts to trick everyday Australians into handing over personal information, money, or access to their accounts. At Arafura Consulting & Media, we’re seeing a steady rise in scams targeting people through emails, text messages, and even phone calls pretending to be from trusted organisations like the ATO. But it's not ba

Who doesn’t love a freebie? After sharing our recent post about the scam call that nearly had us second-guessing ourselves, quite a few people reached out to ask about the quick-reference action card we mentioned. That got us thinking about making a simple card you can download, print out and keep near your phone. And that's exactly what we've done...

It started like any other afternoon. But what followed was one of the most convincing scam attempts I’ve ever encountered — and I say that as someone who knows what to look for. The caller was a male with a British accent, calm and professional. He introduced himself as being from the NAB fraud team. Straight away, he had my attention. Then came the hook.....

At Arafura Consulting & Media, we often talk about scams, phishing, and online threats. However, sometimes the biggest risks don’t come from criminals at all—they come from simple, human moments when we’re not at our best. This is the story of a retiree who did everything right… and still ended up with a confusing, costly mistake.

It starts the way many scams do—quietly and just believable enough. A notification appears on your phone. A suspicious transaction. Your instincts kick in. You check with your bank. Everything seems resolved. Then, days later… the phone rings. And that’s when the real scam begins....

Scams are not slowing down — in fact, they’re costing Australians more than ever. New figures released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission show that Australians lost $2.18 billion to scams in 2025.

Online scams are constantly evolving, and a new one is currently targeting Australians through something that appears harmless — free community classes. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a warning about a scam spreading through social media that tricks people into installing malware on their phones or computers. The scam often promotes “free tai chi classes”, or similar, activities like dancing, walking, or hiking. Here's how you can avoid

Scams are getting smarter. But thankfully, so are we. Across Australia, seniors are being targeted more frequently than ever before. However, most scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to look for, they become much easier to spot. Let’s calmly walk through the five most common scams happening right now.

At Arafura Consulting & Media, we don’t write this blog to chase clicks, trends, or scare people into buying things they don’t need. We write it because technology is now part of everyday life, and too many people are being left to figure it out alone. Learn more about what we do.

If your browser suddenly shows a warning message about being hacked while using Chrome or Safari, don’t panic — but don’t ignore it either. Cybersecurity experts have noticed a new wave of fake, dangerous websites that can trick browsers and steal passwords, personal accounts, and other sensitive information if you visit them. Learn how to stay one step ahead of the scammers.

If you search for “best antivirus software in Australia,” you’ll quickly find familiar names like Norton, Bitdefender, AVG, ESET and Avira. These products dominate comparison lists because they’re easy to install, reasonably priced, and packed with extra features like VPNs and password managers. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Learn about it in our latest blog...

New cybersecurity research shows that Microsoft has become the most impersonated brand in phishing attacks worldwide. Cybercriminals are using fake emails and websites that look like legitimate Microsoft communications to trick Australians into handing over personal information, including passwords, payment details, and account access. This trend highlights how important it is for people and businesses of all ages to recognise cunning scams and protect themselves online.

We’ve all seen those little puzzles online that ask you to click on traffic lights or confirm you’re “not a robot.” They’re meant to keep websites safe — but scammers have found a way to turn them into traps. This week, cybersecurity researchers uncovered a wave of fake CAPTCHA screens appearing on everyday websites, tricking people into downloading malware disguised as harmless updates. It’s a clever twist on a familiar idea, and it’s catching many users off guard.