5 reasons to write to your federal mp about your scam
If you’ve been scammed, you might feel like no one is listening and that you are somehow to blame. But there’s someone in whose job it is to represent your voice: your federal Member of Parliament or MP. Here’s why you should write to these people and ask them to do their job to represent your needs to help navigate a system rigged against scam victims.
If your home computer is running slowly, it can be due to age or it could be a malicious compromise. Here’s how to check.
your letter helps build the case for change
Scam Victim Alliance believe scams are not isolated incidents that only happen to silly people who don’t understand how to use technology — they are a national crisis weakening trust in our financial system.
When you share your experience with your MP - a person your taxpayer dollars funds to help you - then you political leaders understand the real-world impact of financial crime. Politicians need these human stories to push for stronger laws, fairer systems, and accountability from banks, platforms, and regulators.
2. Your MP CAN HELP ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF
MPs work for you - you don’t need to be afraid to ask for their help. It’s their job to help you.
That doesn’t mean that all of them will help.
MPs can contact federal agencies, ministers, or Ombudsmen like AFCA to help escalate your case.
While they can’t force banks to refund your money, they can write letters of support, raise your issue in Parliament, or put pressure on agencies to respond more urgently.
First, you will need to write your scam experience as a clear and simple timeline - don’t confuse people (cos scams are nothing BUT confusing, which is why no-one wants to fix anything).
How to Write Your Scam Story as a Clear Timeline
Use these bullet points to organise your experience in a way that’s easy to follow for your MP, a complaint body (like AFCA), or even a support service:
1. How the scam started:
When did it happen (month/year)?
How were you first contacted? (e.g. email, text, phone call, social media, fake ad, or investment platform)
2. Who or what the scammer claimed to be:
Did they pretend to be your bank, a government agency, a lawyer, a romantic partner, or a known brand?
What made them seem believable?
3. What they said or offered:
Were you told to invest, pay a bill, move money, or act urgently?
Were any documents, websites, or credentials provided to make it look real?
4. What action you took and why:
Did you transfer money, share personal info, download something, or click a link?
Explain how they gained your trust (e.g. emails, professional documents, etc.)
5. When you realised something was wrong:
What first made you suspicious?
Did you contact your bank, solicitor, or police?
What response did you get?
6. What was lost:
How much money was involved?
Was personal data or emotional trust also affected?
7. What happened next:
Did you try to recover the funds?
What help or support did you seek, and from whom?
Were you blamed, supported, or ignored?
8. Where things stand now:
Has anything been resolved?
What are you hoping for (e.g. accountability, reform, compensation)?
Sometimes it helps to write this timeline out and keep it as a document you can use to talk to your bank or AFCA and other politicians who might help you in your journey. Keeping clear files and documents is really important, so also keep a record of all your letters in a file somewhere.
3. engaging your mp sends a clear message that scams are unacceptable
Banks, digital platforms, telcos and policymakers have allowed gaps in our financial system that let financial criminals win.
By writing to your MP, you’re sending a clear message: Australians deserve protections, support, and justice — not silence or blame.
🛠 HOW TO FIND YOUR MP TO WRITE TO THEM
Your home address is the key to finding out who you should write to - it’s usually your lower house federal MP that can help you in scam matters.
To find out who your local federal MP is, you can:
Go to the Parliament of Australia website and enter your details to find your local federal MP or Senator (these are state representatives who may also help).
Go to the Electoral Commission website to find out which electorate you are in and then Google search your local member’s contact details.
Remember that you have a right to walk in to your federal MP’s local office to ask for help (but check their opening hours, because they aren’t usually open 5 days a week like other businesses!).
4. tailor your MP letter SO IT’S CLEAR AND CONCISE - don’t rant!
Your MP can’t help you until they understand clearly what you need them to do to help you in your scam matter.
Introduce yourself clearly. Let your MP know if how your scam happened, how you were contacted and try to give them a clear and concise summary of your scam experience.
State your purpose up front. Use a clear sentence like: “I’m writing to ask for your support in ensuring fair treatment and justice for scam victims,” or “I urge you to support a Royal Commission into scam-related financial crime.”
Focus on one main issue. Stay on topic. Whether it's victim restitution, stronger banking controls, or government inaction, be concise and clear about what you want your MP to understand.
Explain why it matters. Share how the issue has affected you personally, and how it impacts your community. Ground your story in facts, but speak from the heart.
Use your own words. Avoid copy-paste templates. MPs respond better to personalised, sincere letters. A handwritten or personally signed letter has the strongest impact. Remember, you have the right to meet with the electorate officer, even if the MP is too busy to meet with you personally.
Ask for a response. Politely request that your MP reply to your letter — this invites engagement and accountability. It doesn’t mean you will get one, but asking helps!
Mention your connection, if relevant. If you’ve voted for, volunteered with, or previously contacted your MP, let them know. It helps humanise the relationship.
Be respectful and polite. Avoid blame or anger — your power is in your dignity and clarity. Rudeness undermines your message. Keep your letters short and clear.
Include your contact details. Provide your full name, address, phone number, and email so your MP can respond.
Encourage others to write. Invite friends, family, or support networks who live locally to contact their MPs too — collective action carries more weight.
Say thank you when it’s due. If your MP supports your cause or takes action, acknowledge it with a note of thanks. They also love it if you help them hand out how-to-vote cards or volunteer for them at election time.
Write to your local MP — not all of them. Your own MP is elected to represent your interests. Start there. If they don’t respond, then you can write to the Ministers responsible for portfolio areas connected to scams like finance, treasury, social services, health and so on.
Address them correctly. Use their correct title and name and ensure your letter is formally presented. Try not to use Chat GPT or AI to do a stock letter - use your real words and articulate what you want to happen next.
5. join our community for connection and help
Every letter a scam victim writes counts, even if you’re ignored.
When dozens, hundreds, or thousands of victims speak up, it becomes impossible to ignore. MPs start to realise this isn’t just “online crime” — it’s a public safety, financial, and emotional health issue affecting people in every community.
Remember to join our private community to have better, more connected discussions and find support.
some PROMPTS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU WRITE YOUR LETTER
“My thoughts after my scam experience are that Australia needs:
Stronger scam prevention frameworks, including controls like Confirmation of Payee and real-time fraud detection;
Clear accountability from financial institutions, especially when platforms and banks fail to detect or prevent fraud;
Support and restitution pathways for scam victims, who are often retraumatised by a system that fails to protect or assist them.
OR
“As your constituent, I am asking:
-Will you support a Royal Commission into scams and financial crime?
-Will you speak up in Parliament to ensure that scam victims are protected, not blamed?
OR
This issue affects not just me, but many others in our community — especially vulnerable and older Australians. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly or your staff, and I would appreciate a response to this letter.