SCAM SPOT: Scammed twice - why repeat victims are the new target

Ben Young
10:00am September 09 2025

Have a guess which group of Australians are most likely to be victims of scams. Older people? Young adults? Those in a rush? Surprisingly, it’s none of these. The most likely victims are those who’ve already been scammed once. 

It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? It’s easy to assume that once bitten, twice shy. But scammers are increasingly cunning, persistent and disturbingly well-organised. They know that someone who’s lost money is often desperate to get it back.  

Unfortunately, it’s that very desperation makes them vulnerable all over again. 

Here’s how the Recovery Scam trap works. Scammers keep detailed logs of their victims, details such as who they are, what scam worked and how much was lost. These lists are shared and sold to other cyber criminals.  

Soon, the same victim gets a call from someone claiming to help - be it the police, a support group or a recovery service. They sound convincing because they’re privy to the private details of exactly what happened. And they offer help, at a price. 

It’s called a recovery scam and it’s one of the fastest-growing tactics in Australia. 

According to the latest figures from ACCC’s ScamWatch, Australians reported over $174 million in losses to scams in the first half of 2025 alone, with investment scams topping the list. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Many scams go unreported due to embarrassment or fear. 

As to why repeat victims get targeted, scammers don’t just rely on luck. They use psychology. People who’ve already been scammed may feel isolated, ashamed or eager to “make things right.” That emotional vulnerability makes them prime targets. 

Some victims are also more risk-tolerant, while others are simply looking for connection - something scammers are quick to exploit. 

And once they know you’re susceptible, they won’t stop. If you block one number, they’ll call from another. If you stop sending money, they’ll try to convince you it’s not a scam. If that fails, they’ll move on to the next trick. 

When considering how to protect yourself from such tactics, it might be helpful to think of scammers like door-to-door salespeople, in that if you show even a flicker of interest, they’ll keep knocking.  

Here’s how to shut the door: 

  • Be sceptical of unsolicited contact, especially if it involves money or personal information 
  • Verify independently. If someone claims to be from your bank or the police, hang up and call the official number 
  • Talk to someone - scammers thrive in silence. Share your concerns with a friend, family member or your bank 
  • Report scams to ScamWatch and help others avoid the same trap 

Scams are calculated, repeat operations run by networks that know how to manipulate. The best defence is awareness, caution and community. If you’ve been scammed before, you’re not alone, but you may be on a list to get retargeted. Being aware of that could save you from being scammed again. 

Ben Young

Ben Young is Westpac’s Head of Fraud Prevention. Ben’s team researches and operates Westpac’s key fraud protection processes for the ~25 million transactions processed each day by the bank, particularly around credit cards, internet banking, branch and applications for credit. Ben has been intimately involved in Westpac’s anti-fraud processes since 2007 and has worked in various data led risk processes since 1997.

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