Scammers love a distracted Aussie at 4:00 pm—here’s how you can ruin their day
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Scammers are striking when you're least expecting it.
New data has pinpointed the exact moment fraudsters are most likely to catch Aussies off guard.
And if you’ve ever felt that strange text or email came at a weird time…you might be onto something.
According to research from Westpac, Australians were most likely to be targeted by scams on Tuesdays at 4:00 pm.
The bank’s analysis of customer transaction data revealed this was the most frequent time for scam attempts, especially remote access scams, to succeed.
Ben Young, Westpac’s head of fraud prevention, said: ‘People are multitasking and not paying close attention to the signs that something could be a scam. These scammers are opportunistic and take advantage of people when they can.’
While many scams begin with a morning message, it's in the late afternoon—when people are tired or distracted—that victims often fall for the trick.
‘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, and this is why it’s so important for people to stay alert and take a moment to think before clicking links, sharing information or sending money.’
Remote access scams were the most common during Tuesday afternoons, accounting for 29 per cent of scam types in that time slot.
These typically involved someone pretending to be from a trusted organisation like myGov or a bank, urging victims to install software or grant them access to their device.
Once inside, scammers could harvest personal details or siphon funds directly from victims’ accounts.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s National Anti-Scam Centre revealed that victims of remote access scams lost an average of $17,943 in the first quarter of 2024—up 57 per cent from the previous year.
Westpac's broader data found that Thursday was the overall worst day for scam activity, although the Tuesday afternoon window remained the most precise danger zone.
It also found that 80 per cent of scams occurred after lunchtime, and 85 per cent happened during the standard Monday to Friday work week.
In a separate Yahoo Finance poll, 33 per cent of over 6,200 respondents said they had either fallen victim to a scam or narrowly avoided one in the past 12 months.
Investment scams (20 per cent) and buying and selling scams (13 per cent) were also frequently reported on Tuesday afternoons.
It’s one thing to know when scams are most likely to strike—but it’s another to understand what protections are actually in place if you do get caught out.
Some victims are learning the hard way that the current system doesn’t always work in their favour.
This next story exposes what really happens after the money’s gone.
Read more: Exposed: Shocking truth about Scams Prevention Framework that victims deserve to know!
Do you usually let your guard down in the afternoon? That might be exactly when scammers are waiting.
New data has pinpointed the exact moment fraudsters are most likely to catch Aussies off guard.
And if you’ve ever felt that strange text or email came at a weird time…you might be onto something.
According to research from Westpac, Australians were most likely to be targeted by scams on Tuesdays at 4:00 pm.
The bank’s analysis of customer transaction data revealed this was the most frequent time for scam attempts, especially remote access scams, to succeed.
Ben Young, Westpac’s head of fraud prevention, said: ‘People are multitasking and not paying close attention to the signs that something could be a scam. These scammers are opportunistic and take advantage of people when they can.’
Scammers strike hardest at 4:00 pm Tuesday. Image source: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
While many scams begin with a morning message, it's in the late afternoon—when people are tired or distracted—that victims often fall for the trick.
‘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, and this is why it’s so important for people to stay alert and take a moment to think before clicking links, sharing information or sending money.’
Remote access scams were the most common during Tuesday afternoons, accounting for 29 per cent of scam types in that time slot.
These typically involved someone pretending to be from a trusted organisation like myGov or a bank, urging victims to install software or grant them access to their device.
Once inside, scammers could harvest personal details or siphon funds directly from victims’ accounts.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s National Anti-Scam Centre revealed that victims of remote access scams lost an average of $17,943 in the first quarter of 2024—up 57 per cent from the previous year.
Westpac's broader data found that Thursday was the overall worst day for scam activity, although the Tuesday afternoon window remained the most precise danger zone.
It also found that 80 per cent of scams occurred after lunchtime, and 85 per cent happened during the standard Monday to Friday work week.
In a separate Yahoo Finance poll, 33 per cent of over 6,200 respondents said they had either fallen victim to a scam or narrowly avoided one in the past 12 months.
Investment scams (20 per cent) and buying and selling scams (13 per cent) were also frequently reported on Tuesday afternoons.
It’s one thing to know when scams are most likely to strike—but it’s another to understand what protections are actually in place if you do get caught out.
Some victims are learning the hard way that the current system doesn’t always work in their favour.
This next story exposes what really happens after the money’s gone.
Read more: Exposed: Shocking truth about Scams Prevention Framework that victims deserve to know!
Do you usually let your guard down in the afternoon? That might be exactly when scammers are waiting.
