New research from Westpac has revealed the surprising time Australians are most at risk of being scammed—4pm on a Tuesday.
As people wind down their workday, manage the school run or prepare for evening plans, it seems scammers are ramping up their efforts, exploiting distracted minds and busy routines.
According to the analysis of customer transaction data, Tuesday afternoons are the peak time for scam activity, with Thursday and Monday following closely behind. The findings suggest that 80% of scam incidents take place between 12pm and 11pm, with 85% of all scams happening during the working week.
Westpac head of fraud prevention Ben Young said scammers are highly opportunistic and know when to catch people off guard. “We’re seeing a clear pattern where scammers are striking later in the day, most commonly on Tuesday afternoons, when people are multitasking and not paying close attention to the signs that something could be a scam. These scammers are opportunistic and taking advantage of people when they can,” Young said.
He noted that even when scam messages are received earlier in the day, the critical danger period is the late afternoon—when victims are more likely to act without caution. “You might receive a suspicious message in the morning, but it’s often in the late afternoon, when your guard is down, that you act on it. That’s the window scammers are counting on,” Young said.
The data also revealed the most prevalent scams targeting Westpac customers at 4pm: remote access scams accounted for 29%, followed by investment scams at 20%, and buying and selling scams at 13%.
“These scams are designed to catch people off guard,” Young said. “Remote access scams in particular often involve a sense of urgency or technical confusion, perfectly timed for when people are less focused.”
In response to the rising threat, Westpac has deployed several new technologies to support customers and combat scammers. Among these is an AI-powered tool that can detect potential scams in real time during customer phone calls. Additionally, a new feature has been added to the bank’s mobile app, allowing users to report scams digitally. In the coming months, Westpac will roll out “SafeBlock”, a tool that enables customers to immediately freeze their accounts if they suspect a scam.
“We know scams can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, so we’re constantly monitoring and adapting our protection measures to stay one step ahead and help our customers,” Young added. He urged customers to remain vigilant and act quickly if they think they have been targeted. “I would encourage everyone to keep your eyes peeled for scam activity and if you suspect you’ve been impacted, tell the bank immediately. The earlier we’re notified the sooner we’re able to try and help.”
Westpac also shared a number of tips to help the public guard against scams, including avoiding unsolicited messages, verifying payment details before sending money, and calling trusted contacts when in doubt.
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