Monday Scam Brief — 14 September 2026

ASIC kept adding unlicensed trading brands to the Moneysmart investor alert list, at a slower clip than recent weeks. Between 7 and 11 September it listed 17 names, including one impersonation of a real Melbourne firm, RT Capital Pty Ltd. Scamwatch did not publish a fresh news-and-alerts item after 17 August.

Older official warnings on fake purchase-callback texts and ATO / myGov impersonation remain current. The Australian Signals Directorate’s September push to switch on multi-factor authentication is still running.

Official alerts this week

ASIC Moneysmart investor alert list — new names this week

Source: ASIC Moneysmart investor alert list

Between 7 and 11 September 2026 ASIC added 17 names. Most are unlicensed crypto- or trading brands on throwaway domains. One impersonates a real Australian company:

Impersonation of RT Capital Pty Ltd (AFSL 700137) at rtcis.com, listing a St Kilda Road, Melbourne address, info@rtcis.com and a 03 number

Unlicensed names added this week include Keen Accruvance, BTC Knotus V15.4, Tradora Holdings, Prism Stash, a Stryvax pair (stryvaxweb.com, stryvaxtop.com), a Solid Warranture pair (ormelqisra.com, jornavestiq.top), Thunder FX, TPK Trading, Trader Prime, Landix Group (also using Lightening Ventures), Free Trade, ApexTradex Markets, Benford Investment and Murrius Group. TPK Trading lists a Pitt Street, Sydney address; Trader Prime pushes Telegram and WhatsApp. Being on the list means ASIC says the operator is not licensed to offer investments in Australia. The list is not complete: a missing name is not a green light. Check the live list and ASIC’s professional registers before you send money, and treat unexpected wealth, broker or crypto offers as hostile until you have verified them yourself.

Still active official warnings

Fake purchase-callback texts

Source: Scamwatch, 14 July 2026

A message claims you bought something you did not buy and tells you to call a number to cancel. The number is the scammer. Hang up and check any real purchase through the store’s official app or website. Do not read back a one-time code to anyone who rang you.

ATO and myGov impersonation

Source: Scamwatch and the ATO, 26 June 2026

Emails, texts and calls pretending to be from the ATO or myGov are still circulating. The ATO will not demand urgent payment by gift card, crypto or a transfer to a “safe account”. Sign in only through ato.gov.au or my.gov.au that you typed yourself. The ATO’s own scam alerts page still features a July 2026 fake appointment-email warning.

ASD Australian Cyber Security Centre: switch on multi-factor authentication

Source: ASD ACSC, 1 September 2026

ASD’s September campaign is still current. A password on its own is no longer enough. Turn on phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication, starting with email, banking and social-media accounts. Prefer passkeys where a service supports them; otherwise use an authenticator app. Do not read a one-time code back to anyone who rang or messaged you first. Setup steps are on the Centre’s multi-factor authentication guide.

What to do

Stop. Unexpected messages that rush you to pay, call, buy gift cards or share codes are a warning sign. Pause.
Check. Use a phone number or website you already know, not the one in the message. For investments, check ASIC’s registers and the investor alert list.
Protect. Turn on multi-factor authentication. If money or details have gone, contact your bank first, then report it.

How to report

Scamwatch (ACCC): scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam
Report a cybercrime to police via ReportCyber: cyber.gov.au
Identity and recovery support: IDCARE on 1800 595 160

This brief is a public-interest summary of official Australian sources. It is not legal, financial or tax advice. Always rely on the original agency page linked above.