Overseas retirement scams: property, visa agents, romance and investment scams

What scams target Australians retiring overseas?

Smartraveller and Scamwatch warn about four kinds: property deals, visa scams, romance scams and investment scams. Smartraveller says internet scams often start while you are still in Australia. The four can also run into each other, so a romance turns into an investment pitch, or into a request to buy a property together.

How big is the problem?

Big enough to plan for. AAP reported in August 2026 that Scamwatch figures showed these losses for January to August 2026:

Scam type, January to August 2026	Reported losses
All scams reported to Scamwatch	A$186.9 million
Investment scams	About A$96 million
Romance scams	A$17.7 million

These are reported figures, via AAP. Smartraveller says it is common for romance scammers to target older Australians.

How do property scams work overseas?

Usually through a deal that looks good and moves fast. Smartraveller says scams in Thailand may involve property ownership and business ventures, and recommends legal advice before any major financial decision.

In some countries, it warns, you may not have the same rights as a local partner to own real estate. Scammers also post fake ads for holiday rentals, sometimes on real websites.

Questions to ask a local lawyer you found yourself, not one the seller suggested:

1. Can a foreigner legally own this property, or this kind of interest in it?
2. Whose name will be on the title, and what rights does that give me?
3. What happens to it under local law if my partner or I die?
4. Is the seller the real owner, and are there debts on it?

How do visa scams and fake visa agents work?

According to Smartraveller, visa scams push travellers to buy visas they don’t need, or ones that are illegal or overpriced. Some third-party websites charge a fee to lodge your application, and some of those are scams. Our guide to retirement visas by age shows the government and embassy pages we checked for each visa.

• Apply through links or organisations the country’s embassy or consulate recommends, Smartraveller says.
• Thailand’s arrival card (TDAC) is free, and Smartraveller warns of fake websites that charge for it. See the Thailand retirement visa for the official steps.
• Travelling on a fake visa can mean arrest, jail or deportation, Smartraveller warns.
• Anyone who asks for money up front for work permits, visas or immigration fees is a warning sign, according to Smartraveller.

For a foreign visa, ask the country’s embassy or immigration office, or a licensed visa agent there. An Australian visa (for a partner you meet overseas, say) is a question for a registered migration agent.

What does a romance scam look like?

It looks like love, and then it asks for money. Smartraveller says romance scammers fake affection to get access to your super and savings, and some use fake profiles on Australian dating websites. If you are retiring on your own, learn the signs before you go.

Here are the signs Scamwatch lists:

• They declare strong feelings fast, and message or call a lot.
• They move you quickly from a dating site to a private messaging app.
• There is always a reason they cannot meet in person or video chat.
• They want the relationship kept secret, and may try to cut you off from family and friends.
• Once you are close, they encourage you to invest, often in cryptocurrency.

Scamwatch says to never send money, card or bank details, or identity documents to someone you only know online, however long you have been talking.

Never travel overseas to get your money back. Smartraveller says victims who travelled to the country where a scam started have had their lives threatened, and some have been killed. Report it from home instead.

How do I spot an investment scam?

By the promise. Scamwatch says investment scams promise big payouts with little or no risk, and push you to act before you can check the deal.

Watch for:

• Fake news stories or ads that claim a celebrity recommends the scheme.
• Someone you met online, as a friend or romantic interest, starts talking to you about investing.
• Over-the-top promises of big returns, with testimonials.
• Pressure to act fast so you do not miss out.
• An “adviser” who claims they do not need an Australian financial services licence.

Criminals also pretend to be real investment and finance companies. Scamwatch suggests checking that anyone offering financial products or advice holds an Australian financial services licence, and contacting the business on details you looked up yourself rather than ones they gave you.

Can scammers target my family while I am away?

Yes, and if you are helping a parent who is going, you are who a scammer would contact. Smartraveller describes “family-in-need” scams: someone contacts your family with a believable story that you have been hurt, arrested or kidnapped, then asks for money. Some use photos from your social media, or AI-made fakes of your voice or face.

Smartraveller suggests agreeing a security question with your family before you go, one no one else would know the answer to, and staying in regular contact so they know you are safe. Our guide on talking to your family covers the rest of that conversation.

What do I do if I have been scammed?

Get safe first. Smartraveller’s steps, if you are overseas:

1. Report it to the local police, and ask for a police report.
2. Contact your bank to block your cards and accounts.
3. Contact your travel insurer. Smartraveller says most have a 24-hour emergency number you can call from overseas.

If the scam started in Australia, contact your bank, Scamwatch and the police. The Australian Federal Police suggests reporting it to your state or territory police and asking for the report to be sent to INTERPOL. Smartraveller notes that DFAT does not investigate financial or internet crime overseas, but consular staff can help.

What this means for you depends on

• Whether you plan to buy property, rent, or invest overseas.
• New people you meet online, before or after you go.
• How you apply for visas, and who you pay.
• How much of your life is on social media for a scammer to use.
• Whether your family knows your plans and has a way to check it is really you.