What Are Threat and Penalty Scams?
Threat and penalty scams—also known as extortion scams—are designed to frighten victims into handing over money or personal information. Scammers often pose as officials or authority figures, using threats of arrest, legal action, or even deportation to create a sense of urgency and fear.
These scams rely on panic and pressure, leaving people little time to think clearly.
🔍Examples
Visa Threat Scams
Amit received a call from someone claiming to be from the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The caller said there was a problem with Amit’s visa paperwork and that he was at risk of being deported immediately unless he acted fast.
The caller told Amit he could “pause the deportation process” by making a temporary payment while the issue was being investigated. He was instructed to withdraw $4,000 in cash and deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM, converting it to Bitcoin and sending it to a wallet address provided by the caller.
Worried about his immigration status and afraid of being forced to leave the country, Amit followed the instructions.
Unfortunately, it was all a scam—and Amit lost the entire $4,000.
Tax Office Penalty
Siti received an email that appeared to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It had an official-looking logo and warned that her most recent tax return was flagged for fraudulent activity.
Shortly after, she got a phone call from someone claiming to be an ATO investigator. The caller said that unless she paid a penalty fee of $2,800 immediately, her bank accounts would be frozen and legal action would be taken.
The caller demanded payment through a wire transfer and instructed Siti not to tell anyone, claiming that the case was under “confidential review.”
Feeling overwhelmed and desperate to clear her name, Siti complied and sent the money—only to realize later it had been a scam
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
- 🚫 Legitimate authorities will never ask for gift cards, Bitcoin, or wire transfers.
- 📞 Hang up and verify the caller’s claims by contacting the agency directly.
- 🧠 Don’t rush. Scammers want you to panic. Take a breath, think, and double-check.
❤️ Kangaroo Service Cares About Your Safety
At Kangaroo Service, your security comes first. If you receive a suspicious message or phone call related to your money transfer, please contact our 24/7 support team right away.
We’re always here to help you make safe and confident financial decisions.
🛡️ Need help or unsure about something?
📞 Call us or chat live at any time.
📧 australia@kangaroo-service.com