How to Spot Fake ASIC Annual Review and Company Registration Renewal Notices Targeting Australian Small Businesses

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Spot Fake ASIC Annual Review and Company Registration Renewal Notices Targeting Australian Small Businesses. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Australian small business owners are increasingly targeted by fraudulent emails and letters claiming to be from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). These scams often demand urgent payment for an Annual Review or company registration renewal, threatening deregistration if payment is not made immediately. This guide helps you identify fake ASIC notices so you can protect your business from financial loss and identity theft.

Recognising Fake ASIC Communications

ASIC does send legitimate renewal notices, but scammers mimic their branding to create a sense of urgency. Before making any payment, verify the following warning signs.

Common Red Flags

• Demands for immediate payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
• Threats of immediate deregistration or legal action within 24 hours.
• Generic greetings such as "Dear Customer" instead of your company name.
• Poor spelling, grammar, or formatting inconsistent with official government correspondence.
• Sender email addresses that do not end in @asic.gov.au.
• Links that direct you to websites other than asic.gov.au or register.business.gov.au.

Verification Steps

1. Do not click any links or open attachments in the suspicious email or letter.
2. Open your web browser and manually navigate to the official ASIC website at asic.gov.au.
3. Use the ASIC Connect portal to log in and check your company's actual registration status and upcoming fees.
4. Compare the ABN or ACN listed in the notice with the details on your original company registration documents.
5. Check the sender's email address carefully. Scammers often use addresses like [email protected] instead of an official government domain.
6. Hover over any links without clicking to see the actual destination URL. If it does not match asic.gov.au, delete the message.

What to Do If You Receive a Fake Notice

1. Do not reply to the email or letter.
2. Do not provide any personal, financial, or company details to the sender.
3. Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au.
4. Forward suspicious emails to ASIC's official reporting channel if available on their website.
5. Delete the email from your inbox and your deleted items folder.
6. If you have already made a payment, contact your financial institution immediately to report potential fraud.

Protecting Your Business Going Forward

• Bookmark the official ASIC website and access it directly rather than through email links.
• Keep your company registration details and renewal dates in a secure calendar or document.
• Train all staff members who handle company mail or emails to recognise phishing attempts.
• Regularly analyse your incoming correspondence for signs of impersonation scams.

If you are unsure whether an ASIC notice is legitimate, do not make any payment until you have verified it through official channels. For further assistance with IT security or email filtering, Open a Ticket.

Still Having Issues?