There has been a surge in dark web prices for stolen identity documents in an environment of geopolitical unrest and increased global migration pressure, with Australian passports now fetching more than $1,200 and driver’s licences selling for over $1,500, BDO’s latest Australian Scam Culture Report has revealed.
BDO Forensic Services partner Stan Gallo said that like any economy, prices are reflective of supply and demand and increases—17 per cent and 13 per cent respectively—align accordingly.
“One possibility is that identity traffickers are capitalising on rising tensions and broader instability across key migration corridors,” Stan said.
“The dark web is a mirror of global pressure points, and right now, identity is a valuable commodity.
“As the rhetoric surrounding immigration crackdowns intensifies, and fears rise more broadly, we're seeing a corresponding spike in the value of legitimate identity documents. Australians might think this is a world away, but these black-market dynamics are directly feeding the scams hitting inboxes and bank accounts right here.”
BDO’s latest Australian Scam Culture Report reveals Australians lost $92.5 million to scams in the March 2025 quarter alone.
Stan says the growing value of identity data is not theoretical—it’s powering a local scam economy that is getting faster, smarter, and harder to stop.
“Stolen identity documents and personal information underpin everything from romance scams to business email compromise attacks. As demand rises and passport values climb, the motivation to steal data becomes relentless.”
Email remains the primary tool for scammers, accounting for over $5.4 million in monthly scam losses. But mobile app scams and smishing—SMS-based phishing—are now rising sharply, with losses linked to text messages jumping by 51 per cent in just one quarter.
Meanwhile, scammers are leveraging AI to write more convincing fake messages that are nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communication.
Despite a $10 million drop in investment scam losses, the report notes troubling increases in romance, employment, and buying/selling scams.
BEC attacks continue to hit businesses hard, with attackers infiltrating email systems to intercept payments and reroute funds, becoming a threat in corporate procurement environments.
“These attacks—where scammers impersonate executives or vendors—can lead to significant financial and reputational damage.
“BEC isn’t just about a hacked inbox, it’s about breached trust. Businesses must treat scam awareness as a cultural priority, not a compliance checkbox.”
“This is not just opportunism—it’s a structured, transnational fraud economy,” said Stan.
For media enquiries:
Tate Papworth
Manager, Media
E: Tate.Papworth@bdo.com.au
Ph: 0433411189