New measures to reduce scams are beginning to take effect, following the introduction of the Australian Scam Prevention framework (SPA), with a decrease in scams seen from 2024 to 2025.

Sectors including the banks, telcos and digital platforms like social media, have introduced new protection measures as mandated protections in the first iteration of the framework, with the SPA framework expected to extend control requirements to other sectors, including superannuation and crypto, in the future.

Consumers are also being encouraged to take more scam prevention activities.

“This framework is a global first, and is asking all the various players that can be involved or impacted in scam activities, to work together and tighten controls, and educating consumers on what potential scams could be, ” says Troy Nicholson, co-founder of Satori.

The National Anti-Scam Centre released the latest scam data, showing an overall drop in the number of scams, but an increase in the amount lost by those scammed.

“It will be interesting to see how this framework impacts scam numbers over time, but it’s great to see a drop in numbers this year. Scams are so detrimental to the individual and consumers, so every scam prevented is a win.”

However business email compromise, the type of scam that typically impacts businesses and organisations, is globally on the rise.

Troy says that, unlike individuals, businesses have the ability to improve internal processes to prevent scams. For example, using the name checker function offered by banks like CBA to verify a suppliers information before an invoice is paid.

“Automating processes like payee verification is the key to ensuring the very best approach to scam prevention.

“OK2Pay can be set up in minutes and automates the validation of a payee’s details, including their name, bank account, ABN and GST status. It reduces the manual load of validation, and takes potential human error, out of the process.

“OK2Pay can even detect conflict of interests, preventing potential employee fraud or scams.”

Troy recently spoke to Commonwealth Bank Group Fraud Manager James Roberts, about what Australia’s biggest bank is doing to prevent scams, Australia’s new Scam Framework, and what organisations can do to reduce scams.