Consumers have received emails and phone calls from scammers purporting to be from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), asking them to provide a payment to enable funds or assets to be released.

ASIC is aware of a recent example where requests were made for payments in US dollars to release an investor’s funds. Offers such as these are recovery scams.

The regulator notes that it does not collect payments to enable the release of funds or assets.

ASIC will never ask for a payment in any currency to enable funds or assets to be released. ASIC will also not require or accept payments in digital or crypto assets (including stablecoins), whether that is to or from your crypto asset wallet or to an account at a digital asset exchange.

ASIC is Australia’s financial services regulator – it does not allow the reproduction or use of its logo by a third party entity or guarantee any of its services.

Before investing, always check to see if an organisation is licensed by ASIC to provide financial services on the ASIC Professional Registers.

If you receive unsolicited contact claiming to be ASIC or an employee of ASIC, always confirm you are dealing legitimately with ASIC by hanging up the call and calling back on the number listed on the ASIC website.

ASIC will always include a contact in its communications with you, so you can verify the legitimacy of an ASIC-branded notification. You can also call us on 1300 935 075 from within Australia, and +61 1300 935 075 from overseas to verify the legitimacy of the communication.

Additionally, ASIC will always send communications from an email address ending in @asic.gov.au.

ASIC will always call you from a telephone number using Australia’s country code “+61”. If asked, an ASIC employee will provide you with an email from their asic.gov.au email address to confirm the legitimacy of the contact.

If you think you may have provided personal information to someone impersonating ASIC or another organisation, ASIC recommends visiting its Moneysmart website to read about protecting your personal information.

What to do if you believe you have received a false communication?

• Do not take any action until you are sure the communication is legitimate.
• Call ASIC on 1300 935 075 from within Australia, and +611300 935 075 from overseas and ask for the communication to be verified.