- IDCARE: 1800 595 160 for individuals, Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm AEST; 1800 595 170 for small businesses and organisations, 8am to 6pm AEST. Services are free.
- Scamwatch: one in three scam victims has been scammed more than once, so watch for follow-up approaches.
- NSW: ID Support NSW is listed on the NSW Registry of BDM page for people who shared information with suspicious sites (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Sydney time).
What IDCARE is
IDCARE describes itself as Australia’s national identity and cyber support service, with a National Case Management Centre and an Incident Response Team that help individuals, small businesses and organisations affected by scams, cybercrime and identity theft. It assesses your situation and develops a tailored response plan. Scamwatch’s advice page calls it Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service and says it can help you make a plan for free. Our keyword data shows about 4,400 searches a month for “idcare”, so many people already know to look.
The sequence
- Bank first. Scamwatch says to contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the scam and ask them to stop any transactions. If you are not sure whether you are being scammed, stop sending money; scammers will keep asking until you do.
- IDCARE. Ring 1800 595 160 or use its website. Have to hand a list of what you shared: which documents, which numbers, which sites.
- Passwords. Scamwatch says to change passwords on all your devices and online accounts such as banking, email, government and shopping.
- Report. Once your details are secured, report to Scamwatch, and you can make an official report to the police online. Scamwatch also says that if you are at risk of identity misuse, it can help connect you with IDCARE.
- Watch for follow-ups. Scamwatch says that if scammers have stolen money, they often come back; one in three victims has been scammed more than once. Be especially careful about anyone offering to get your money back.
- Support. A financial counsellor is a free, confidential service if the scam has caused debt; Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) are available for support.
Document by document
| If you exposed | Contact |
|---|---|
| A driver licence photo or number | Your state or territory agency (see the directory). Queensland has a page on protecting your identity if licence details are compromised; NSW has a proof-of-identity page covering how to protect your identity. |
| A passport scan | The Australian Passport Office, and IDCARE for a plan |
| A birth, death or marriage certificate application | The registry in your state; NSW lists ID Support NSW; Western Australia says to contact Consumer Protection WA if you suspect fraudulent activity |
| myGov or ATO sign-in details | The ATO on 1800 008 540, per Scamwatch’s June 2026 alert |
| Card details | Your bank, immediately |
The magistrate’s certificate
Division 375 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code lets a victim of identity crime apply to a magistrate for a certificate. The magistrate may issue it if satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that another person dealt in the victim’s identification information, intending that someone pass themselves off as another person to commit or facilitate a Commonwealth indictable offence, and that the certificate may assist with problems the dealing has caused in the victim’s personal or business affairs. The certificate identifies the victim and describes the dealing, and it must not identify the dealer. It applies only where the intended offence is a Commonwealth indictable offence, so it will not fit every case. IDCARE or a community legal centre can advise whether it fits yours; we do not give legal advice.
Do not pay to be rescued
Scamwatch warns that scammers contact people who have already been scammed and offer to help them get money back for a fee, posing as government agencies, lawyers, law enforcement or charities. Its advice: never accept offers from anyone who says they can get your money back, and work with your financial institution. IDCARE’s help is free; anyone charging for recovery of the same thing is another scam.
Frequently asked questions
What is IDCARE?
Australia and New Zealand’s national identity and cyber support service. It assesses your situation and creates a tailored response plan, free of charge. Individuals call 1800 595 160, Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm AEST.
Does IDCARE cost anything?
No. Its services are free, and the small business service is funded by the Australian Government.
What should I do first if my identity details were stolen?
Contact your bank or card provider immediately, then IDCARE, then change passwords on your accounts and report the scam.
Can I get a certificate that I was a victim of identity crime?
Under section 375.1 of the Criminal Code a magistrate can issue one if satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that your identification information was dealt in to commit or facilitate a Commonwealth indictable offence and the certificate may help with problems caused.
Someone offered to recover my money for a fee. Is that real?
Scamwatch says to never accept offers from anyone who says they can get your money back; they are scams that will steal more. Work with your bank and report the approach.
Where do I report identity theft?
Report scams to Scamwatch and make an official police report online. Scamwatch points to an online police report for cybercrime victims, and IDCARE can help with the plan.