If someone has lodged a fraudulent early-access application against your super, made an unauthorised rollover or withdrawal, or tricked you into handing over your super or myGov details, the most important thing is to act fast. The sooner your super fund freezes a pending withdrawal and flags your account for fraud, the better the chance of stopping money that has not yet left. Recovering scammed super is often difficult and nobody can guarantee it, but here is how to give yourself the best chance.
Your rights when your super is targeted
Any withdrawal, rollover or early-release request you did not personally make is unauthorised, and you can tell your fund so and ask it to stop. You can ask the trustee of your super fund to freeze or stop any pending withdrawal, rollover or early-access payment, flag your account for fraud, investigate how the request was made, and confirm in writing what it will do. You can also ask the fund to treat your report as a formal complaint through its internal dispute resolution (IDR) process and give you the outcome in writing with reasons. If the fund does not resolve it, you can take the complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) for free on 1800 931 678 — AFCA handles superannuation complaints, including a complaint about a trustee’s decision relating to your superannuation benefit. Superannuation scams are reported less often than other scams but tend to be high in value: AFCA has reported an average loss of around $90,000 on superannuation scam complaints in 2023-24.
What to do
- Contact your super fund immediately. Use the phone number on your statement or on the fund’s official website, found independently, never a number from a text, email or caller who contacted you. Ask them to freeze or stop any pending withdrawal, rollover or early-access payment, to flag your account for fraud, and to give you a reference number.
- Check myGov for anything you did not do. Log in to myGov yourself — type the address in, do not follow a link someone sent you — check your ATO and super details, and note any early-access or withdrawal application you did not make.
- Notify the ATO. Call the ATO on 1800 467 033, its superannuation and identity-fraud line, to report that someone has tried to access your super without your consent. The ATO processes early-release applications, so it needs to know if a fraudulent one has been lodged in your name.
- Contact your bank if money or banking details are involved. If you gave the scammer banking details, or money has moved to a bank account, ask your bank to watch for and stop any related payment and to give you a reference.
- Get free support from IDCARE. IDCARE is Australia’s free identity and cyber support service. Call them on 1800 595 160, especially if your identity details, myGov or logins were exposed; they can help you secure your identity and other accounts.
- Complain formally, then escalate. Put your complaint to the fund in writing. If the fund does not act or resolve it, escalate to AFCA for free on 1800 931 678. Then secure your accounts: change the passwords on your myGov, email, banking and super accounts and turn on two-factor authentication.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who owes you?
2. How much?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
Do it yourself, or have it drafted
You can write the notice to your fund yourself for free. If you would rather have it done properly, Claim Done drafts two documents for a flat $49: an urgent fraud notice to your super fund that asks it to freeze or stop any pending withdrawal or rollover you did not request, flag your account for fraud, and confirm in writing what it will do and give you a complaint reference, plus a plain-English step-by-step guide to protecting your super. You download both and send or act on them yourself. Recovering scammed super is often difficult and we cannot guarantee it; Claim Done is a flat $49 document service and takes no percentage of anything you recover. Start your fraud notice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my super back?
Honestly, maybe — but we cannot promise it, and recovering scammed super is often difficult. The best chance comes from acting fast: the sooner your fund freezes a pending withdrawal or rollover and flags your account for fraud, the more likely money that has not yet left can be stopped.
What do I do first?
Contact your super fund now — use the phone number on your statement or on the fund’s official website that you find yourself, never a number someone sent you. Ask them to freeze or stop any pending withdrawal or rollover, flag your account for fraud, and give you a reference number. Then check myGov yourself for anything you did not do, and notify the ATO on 1800 467 033.
Is this a recovery scam? How is it different?
It is not, and it is important you can tell the difference. A recovery scam contacts you out of the blue, promises to get your super back, and asks for an upfront fee or access to your myGov or accounts. Claim Done does none of that: it is a document service you chose to come to, it charges a flat $49 for preparing the two documents, it takes no share of anything you recover, and it never asks for access to your accounts. Never pay anyone who contacts you promising to recover your super.
Someone lodged an early-access application I did not make — what now?
Tell your fund immediately that it is unauthorised and ask it to freeze or stop it, which is exactly what the fraud notice does. Also check myGov yourself for the application and notify the ATO on 1800 467 033, since the ATO processes early-release applications and needs to know a fraudulent one has been lodged in your name. If the fund does not resolve it, you can take the complaint to AFCA for free.
Where do I report a super scam?
To several places: your super fund first; myGov to check for any application you did not make; the ATO on 1800 467 033 for attempted access to your super; your bank if you shared banking details; and IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for free support. If your fund does not fix it, escalate to AFCA for free on 1800 931 678, which handles superannuation complaints, including a trustee’s decision about your super.
Do you take a percentage of what I recover?
No. Claim Done charges a flat $49 for preparing the two documents and takes no percentage of anything you recover, ever. Anyone who asks for a cut of your recovered super, or an upfront fee to get it back, is running a recovery scam. Never pay them.
What happens when you send a Super Scam Pack
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Super Scam? Urgent Fraud Notice to Your Fund + Action Guide drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Super Scam? Urgent Fraud Notice to Your Fund + Action Guide from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=superannuation-scam. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Super Scam? Urgent Fraud Notice to Your Fund + Action Guide cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Super Scam? Urgent Fraud Notice to Your Fund + Action Guide in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Super Scam? Urgent Fraud Notice to Your Fund + Action Guide; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.