Over 60 per cent of Australians hit by payment fraud as AI-driven scams rise

Sean Cao

19th Aug 2025

Six in 10 Australians have become victims of payment scams this year amid the increasing involvement of AI tools, research from Checkout.com shows

According to Checkout.com’s Trust in Australia’s Digital Economy 2025 report, 61 per cent of Australians have been hit by payment fraud. AI-fuelled scams that impersonate the Australian Tax Office (ATO) also surged 300 per cent this tax season.

The report notes that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated phishing emails, SMS, and calls – many powered by AI tools. Emerging threats like hyper-personalised phishing and deepfakes are also intensifying the problem, it adds.

These issues prompt businesses to deploy AI-powered checkout defences that protect customers and restore confidence before they hit pay.

In addition, the findings reveal that Australians are increasingly anxious about the digital landscape. Half of the respondents say they fear AI-driven scams while 63 per cent regard AI-powered shopping tools as the top privacy risk.

Fears surrounding fraud have shifted across generations, with younger Australians most concerned about QR code scams on social platforms, while older consumers cite impersonation schemes as their primary threat.

“Our research shows that the payment experience is what makes or breaks consumers’ trust, with 66 per cent of Australians looking for those visible indicators of security when they go to hit pay,” said Monique Biady, head of commercial AU at Checkout.com.

“Now is the moment to deploy AI-powered solutions that protect customers from fraud and scams, without creating friction at the point of checkout.”