- Queensland, 6 February 2026: applying directly costs $56.20; one third-party service charged almost $160, about $100 in extra fees.
- South Australia, 5 February 2026: $72 for a standard certificate and $122 for priority within 24 hours, direct from the registry.
- Western Australia, 16 February 2026: fraudulent sites charge more than twice the standard fee.
- Scamwatch’s alert was changed on 24 April 2026 to update outdated information.
What Scamwatch says
Scamwatch warns Australians to be wary of third-party websites that appear official but are not associated with any state or territory register of births, deaths and marriages. These sites may collect your identification and charge a higher fee. In its description of how the scam works, you visit a website which falsely claims to provide fast and reliable birth, death, marriage or divorce certificates; in reality these websites cannot directly provide certificates, which are only available through official government registries. The site may look genuine and use Australian flags, altered copies of government crests and logos, pictures of landmarks and links to genuine government websites.
It then lists what you may be paying for: more than the regulated fee, or only information, forms or web links which are freely available from official websites, and in some cases nothing at all. The sites commonly ask for personal and financial details such as a credit card number, may ask you to upload copies of identification, and may provide a payment gateway they claim is secure but is actually unsecure and unencrypted. Some subscribe you to ongoing payments you were not aware of.
What the registries add in 2026
| Registry | Date | What it said |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland (Registrar-General) | 6 Feb 2026 | Applying directly costs $56.20; a third-party service charged almost $160 for the same document, nearly three times, with about $100 in extra fees. Official site: qld.gov.au/rbdm. Those affected can ring 13 QGOV (13 74 68) |
| South Australia (Consumer and Business Services) | 5 Feb 2026 | At least one website offering to act as an intermediary agent at a significantly higher cost; certificates can only be provided by official registries. Registry price $72 standard, $122 priority |
| Western Australia | 16 Feb 2026 | Only the Registry can issue legal certificates; sites charge more than twice the fee and some are styled to look official; contact Consumer Protection WA if you suspect fraud |
| NSW | Current page | Be cautious of third-party sites that process applications to the Registry on behalf of customers; they have no official affiliation and may add charges; ID Support NSW is listed for people who shared information with suspicious sites |
| Victoria and the ACT | Current pages | Both carry a scam warning on the registry page and refer to the Scamwatch alert; Victoria says Victorian legal certificates are only available through its Registry |
How the cost difference works
The Queensland example is useful because the numbers are public. The registry fee is $56.20; the third-party site charged almost $160. The difference is not an official fee, a faster service or a better document. The certificate that arrives, if one does, is the registry’s certificate, ordered on your behalf with your identity details passing through a company you chose from a search page. Western Australia adds a second harm: identity documents given to such a site go to a business that, its statement says, operates without the protection of Australian privacy law. South Australia makes the same point about security and privacy law.
Two-minute checklist
- Is the address .gov.au? Scamwatch says only use .gov.au for birth, death or marriage certificates.
- Does it name the state registry that holds your record, rather than offering “Australian certificates”?
- Does the price match what the registry shows? Use the by-state directory.
- Does it ask you to upload ID before showing a price?
- Does it mention a monthly plan or membership? Scamwatch says some sites subscribe you to ongoing payments.
If you already used one
Check your card statement for repeated charges and ask your bank to stop them. If you uploaded identity documents, read identity theft recovery and call IDCARE on 1800 595 160. Then report the site through the Scamwatch report-a-scam page; our reporting guide shows the options. Scamwatch also points to the relevant registries on the myGov website as a safe route to the real service.
Frequently asked questions
Can a website issue a birth certificate?
No. Scamwatch says third-party sites cannot directly provide certificates, which are only available through official government registries. WA says only the Registry can issue legal certificates and that private third parties cannot.
How much extra do certificate websites charge?
Queensland reported one third-party service charging almost $160 for a certificate that costs $56.20 direct, about $100 in extra fees. WA says fraudulent sites charge more than twice the standard fee.
How do I know a certificate site is official?
Scamwatch says to use only websites with a .gov.au address when applying, and notes that my.gov.au is a safe portal for finding government services.
What should I do if I gave a site my ID?
Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160. In NSW, ID Support NSW is listed on the Registry page. Check your card statement and tell your bank.
How much does a birth certificate cost?
It varies by state. Queensland: $56.20 direct (February 2026). South Australia: $72 standard, $122 priority (5 February 2026). Other registries publish their own fee tables; the directory links to each.
Where can I report a scam certificate website?
To Scamwatch through its report-a-scam page, which includes a route for reporting a website. Western Australians can also contact Consumer Protection WA.
Sources and official links
- Scamwatch: scam birth, death and marriage certificate websites
- Queensland Government: commercial sites warning (6 February 2026)
- Consumer and Business Services SA: warning about commercial certificate sites (5 February 2026)
- WA Government: customers warned about dodgy BDM websites (16 February 2026)
- NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages: products and services
- Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria
- Access Canberra: births, relationships and deaths