Australian Homebuyers Feeling 20% Less Property Scam Safe: PEXA Research

• Almost 90% Australians surveyed find property transactions to be one of the most stressful lived experiences.
• 42% Australian respondents fail to spot any property scam warning signs.
• 99% couldn’t spot the use of a fraudulent email address – even after being told the email was a scam.
• PEXA launches security hub to equip Australians with tips for safeguarding property transactions.

Monday, 24 August 2026: Australians in the property market are increasingly worried about their ability to detect property scams, new research from PEXA has confirmed.

The exclusive research revealed that while Australian awareness of property scams remains high, their confidence in their ability to detect such scams has decreased, highlighting growing anxiety around the sophistication and pace of property settlement scams. The study found that 42% of those surveyed couldn’t detect any scam markers in a simulated email, and 99% couldn’t spot the use of a fraudulent email address – even after being told the email was a scam.

The study also found that almost nine in 10 Australian respondents find property transactions to be one of the most stressful lived experiences – more stressful than moving cities and countries, or getting a divorce.

Settlement Scams Index by PEXA, the second annual study by PEXA, measures changes in consumer awareness, detection skills and understanding of property settlement scams, among Australians who have bought a property in the last year or intend to buy in the next.

The survey results coincide with the launch of PEXA’s new security hub – pexa.com.au/preventing-settlement-scams: an educational resource Australians can use to strengthen their understanding of property settlement scams, cyber best practices, and preventative measures they can take to avoid losing their life savings during one of the most important transactions of their lives – buying and selling property.

PEXA Group CISO Graham Fairley said the findings showed why property settlement scams are one of the most financially devastating forms of cyber-crime in Australia.

“These results are concerning, but not surprising. As scammers get more sophisticated, they are becoming harder to detect by average Aussies, especially during a stressful time of their life.”

“Property transactions are often the biggest financial decisions in people’s lives. When scammers strike during these stressful yet critical moments, the consequences are significant.”

“In property settlement scams, cyber criminals compromise trust, not systems. They use highly convincing forms of communication that trick victims with urgent demands to send money to the wrong bank by impersonating trusted parties involved in the transaction such as real estate agents, lawyers or conveyancers.”

“While business email compromise remains the biggest threat, an emerging concern during property settlements has been the use of AI-enabled voice cloning – the email or voice on the phone may sound familiar, but that doesn’t mean it is genuine.”

“While business email compromise remains the biggest threat, an emerging concern during property settlements has been the use of AI-enabled voice cloning – the email or voice on the phone may sound familiar, but that doesn’t mean it is genuine.”

“Awareness is the first step towards safeguarding the property journey. Today, consumers can use secure settlement tools such as PEXA Key to safely exchange bank account details and can rest assured that those details won’t be compromised.”

“Most importantly, follow government advice to ‘Stop. Check. Protect.’ Australians must pause if they receive unexpected changes in payment instructions, instead of taking action under pressure. Verify the request independently, either in person or by calling the property professional on a known number. Consumers should also take Confirmation of Payee warnings by their bank seriously, and must contact their bank immediately if they believe they’ve been a victim of scam.”

For more information, visit pexa.com.au/preventing-settlement-scams

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Settlement Scams Index by PEXA: Key findings

• 92% respondents were aware of at least one type of property scam. 
• Property buyers are less confident in their ability to detect a property scam, with confidence dropping to 41%, compared to 51% in the previous year.
• 42% respondents couldn’t detect any scam markers in a simulated email, and 99% couldn’t spot the use of a fraudulent email address – even after being told the email was a scam.
• 87% Australians surveyed ranked property transactions as one of the most stressful experiences they experienced in life, more stressful than moving cities/countries, or getting a divorce.
• AI-based voice cloning is an emerging threat making it even harder for people to detect property scams, with 62% respondents concerned about its use.
• 84% respondents said they would verify new payment instructions with a real, known person – whether face to face or over a phone call – to avoid scams and to minimise risk in information sharing.

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About the Settlement Scams Index by PEXA

An annual study by PEXA, research for the Settlement Scams Index was conducted by Nature. The research was in market in July 2026. There were 1,028 respondents nationally, comprising 500 respondents that bought a property in the last year and 528 respondents intending to buy property in the next 12 months.

For more information, please contact:

Ange Lewis
Public Relations Manager, PEXA
angeline.lewis@pexa.com.au | 0410 276 909