Fake online ‘scambling’ platforms targeting First Nations peoples probed

Harry Booth

10th Jul 2026

Australia’s consumer watchdog has assembled a taskforce to investigate fake online gambling and casino platforms that appear to be disproportionately targeting First Nations communities.

These platforms, the ACCC said, are manipulating results, withholding winnings and incentivising users to recruit others. These actions have drawn the ire of the National Anti-Scam Centre to crack down on the so-called ‘scambling’.

It received 806 scambling reports in 2025, up from 677 in 2024, with losses in 2025 reaching $1.6 billion. In 2025, more than 45 per cent of reported losses came from those who self-identified as First Nations.

The watchdog also has reason to believe that the scale of the problem could be much greater than currently understood, due to users believing that they lost the money through legitimate gambling.

“These scams create legitimate-looking online gambling platforms to convince consumers to deposit money for supposed gambling services, often before blocking withdrawals or demanding further payments,” ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.  

“We need to understand how these scams are targeting First Nations communities so that we can prevent this from happening.”

Law enforcement officers, government agencies and regulators, digital platforms, banks, telecommunications providers and frontline community services will be brought together for the investigations.

The current operation is set to run until December 9, with a report on its outcomes scheduled for 2027.