One of the best tools we have for fighting cybercriminals is you. We need every Australian to understand different types of cybercrime and the simple steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim.
Commander Chris Goldsmid
AFP Cyber Command
About this crime type
About this crime
In Australia, the term 'cybercrime' is used to describe:
- crimes directed at computers or other information communications technologies (ICTs), such as computer intrusions and denial of service attacks
- crimes where computers or ICTs are an integral part of an offence, such as online fraud.
It's a constantly changing frontier of law enforcement. Cybercrime has also become an important issue for the global community.
Technological advances mean cybercriminal groups can target thousands of Australians at once from anywhere in the world. They share tools, information and techniques through dark web forums and marketplaces.
Cybercrime is often linked to:
Different forms of cybercrime include:
- malware, such as remote access trojans (RATs), keyloggers and ransomware, which inserts a file or code to infect, explore or steal information over a network
- phishing and spear (targeted) phishing, such as fake emails from a bank asking for login details
- man-in-the-middle attacks, where the attacker secretly relays and possibly alters communications between 2 parties who believe that they are directly communicating with each other
- SQL injection, a common web-hacking technique that adds malicious code to a database.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) gives information on:
- types of cybercrime threats
- basic ways to protect yourself online.
Combating cybercrime is a key part of our efforts to stay ahead of serious criminal threats to Australia and Australians.
We work to disrupt anonymous cybercriminals who are using the dark web to evade detection.
AFP Cybercrime Series: Remote Access Trojans (RATs)
Watch our videos to learn more about cybercrime
Cybercrime is one of that fastest growing crime types in Australia with hundreds of millions of dollars lost each year.
We need your help in the fight against cybercrime.
Business email compromise
Ransomware extortion
Remote access scams
Botnets
Keyloggers
Viruses and worms
Phishing
Online shopping scams
Money muling
Malicious software
Crime Interrupted
We provided exclusive access to our case vault and this podcast series provides a detailed insight into how the AFP interrupts the most serious of crimes.
Our work
Our work
We investigate serious and organised cybercrime against:
- the Australian Government
- critical infrastructure and systems
- the Australian economy.
This involves working with other government bodies, including the:
- Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
- Australian Cyber Security Centre
- Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
- Department of Home Affairs.
Most offenders use international internet service providers (ISPs). This means we also partner with international agencies, including:
- Five Eyes partners, an intelligence alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- INTERPOL
- Europol.
Our forensics facility in Canberra has a digital forensics capability. This helps us catch cybercriminals.
Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre
We lead the Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), which is based at a purpose-built facility in Sydney.
The JPC3 brings together all Australian policing jurisdictions. It ensures maximum impact on high-harm, high-volume cybercrime affecting the Australian community.
Its role is to:
- enhance intelligence-sharing and target development across police and industry
- coordinate joint task forces to counter priority cybercrime threats
- coordinate capability improvements through cross-skilling, joint training and collaborative tool development
- communicate prevention, awareness raising and media activities.
Report a crime or concern
We can investigate Commonwealth crimes (sometimes called federal crimes) and crimes that take place in the Australian Capital Territory. What best describes the crime you want to report or what you want to tell us about?
How to report
Part of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, ReportCyber has resources to help report and stay aware of cyber threats. If you're a victim of cybercrime, report it at
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's ScamWatch also collects and analyses scam-related data to help keep all Australians informed about scams. It doesn't respond to reports.
Join us
Join us
Use your investigation and analysis skills to protect Australia and Australians from sophisticated cybercrime.
We are always looking for passionate, critical thinkers to join Cyber Command.
This team of police officers and technical specialists work together to combat the cybercrime threat.
You can join us as a cybercrime investigator and use your investigation skills to detect and uncover cybercrime activities. You don't need technical IT skills to be a cybercrime investigator.
These specialist roles are unsworn and are available at various pay scale levels, depending on your level of experience.
Our Cyber Command police officers work to arrest and disrupt cyber criminals. This includes:
- investigating illegal activity
- interviewing witnesses, suspects and victims
- working with other law enforcement agencies, partner agencies or industry
- working with prosecutors to investigate and resolve criminal matters
- attending court to give evidence when required.
You can apply for positions when they are advertised on our Jobs portal
