Following the success of our 2024 collaboration with the ACCC, we were back for another round – but this time, they wanted to go bigger. Much bigger. What started as a proven formula of victim testimonials had evolved into something far more comprehensive: a full educational suite alongside the personal stories that had worked so well the year before.
The Brief
Building on 2024’s “Share A Story, Stop A Scam” success, the ACCC wanted to expand the Scam Awareness Week 2025 campaign beyond victim testimonials to include comprehensive educational content. The challenge was significant: source additional scam victim stories for hero videos while simultaneously developing seven educational videos covering different scam types, each requiring original script writing for 2-3 minute formats, presenter coordination, and integration with custom animations. All content needed to be delivered in three different video sizes and translated into five different languages, maintaining our established three-month production timeline while working in partnership with Melbourne production house Burninghouse to significantly increase output volume. Each output needed to be delivered in three different video sizes and translated into five languages to ensure maximum reach across Australia’s diverse communities. Working in partnership with Melbourne production house Burninghouse, we knew this would require meticulous planning, sensitive coordination, and flawless execution.
The challenge extended beyond mere production logistics. We were dealing with people who had experienced genuine trauma and financial loss, requiring us to approach each story with empathy while maintaining the authenticity that would make these videos genuinely impactful for viewers.
The Stories That Mattered
We ended up with four compelling narratives that captured different facets of how scams are evolving:
Katy got caught up in a crypto scam through social media during lockdown – timing that couldn’t have been worse. When you’re isolated and financially stressed, those promises of easy money hit differently. Her story showed how scammers prey on vulnerability.
Shankar fell for a romance scam with a distinctly 2023 twist – the scammer leveraged Taylor Swift concert tickets. Not your typical romance scam playbook, but it worked. The emotional manipulation combined with cultural phenomena created the perfect storm.
Julian experienced a sophisticated ATO impersonation that demonstrated just how convincing these operations have become. Official branding, pressure tactics, the works – designed to bypass every rational safeguard you might have. Even if the process of buying gift cards was a little questionable.
Aurnab lost over $1,000 to fake online shopping scammers who’d created near-perfect replicas of legitimate platforms. The level of detail was extraordinary – fake customer service, tracking numbers, the whole nine yards.
Each participant chose to share their story publicly despite the personal cost, understanding that their experiences could protect others from similar harm.
Production Logistics: Capturing Authenticity Across Melbourne
The production phase required careful coordination across multiple Melbourne locations to create environments where our participants felt comfortable sharing deeply personal experiences. We filmed two participants in their own homes, recognizing that familiar surroundings would help them feel more at ease while discussing traumatic experiences. Aurnab was interviewed in our South Melbourne offices, providing a professional yet comfortable setting, while another participant was filmed at a popular coworking space in Collingwood, offering a neutral environment that felt contemporary and accessible.
This location diversity wasn’t just about logistics – it was about matching each participant with an environment that would help them tell their story most effectively while ensuring visual variety across the campaign.
Educational Content: Making Complex Scams Accessible
Beyond personal testimonials, the campaign required seven educational videos covering the most prevalent scam types affecting Australians: Romance Scams, Image-Based Blackmail Scams, Impersonation Scams, Investment Scams, Jobs & Employment Scams, Online Shopping Scams, and Payment Redirection Scams.
Each 2-3 minute educational piece required original script development, working closely with the ACCC to ensure accuracy and effectiveness. Our presenter was filmed at Hitmaker Studio in Port Melbourne, providing the professional production quality needed for educational content while maintaining an approachable, conversational tone.
Burninghouse handled the animation internally, creating sophisticated visual sequences that were seamlessly integrated with the presenter footage. These animations served a crucial purpose – illustrating complex scam processes in ways that were both engaging and easy to understand, helping viewers recognize similar tactics if they encountered them.
The Technical Challenge: Scale and Accessibility
Perhaps the most demanding aspect of the project was the delivery requirements. Every video needed to be produced in three different sizes to accommodate various platforms and usage scenarios, then professionally translated into five languages to ensure the content could reach Australia’s diverse communities.
This meant our final deliverables included not just the original content, but multiple versions optimized for different platforms and audiences. The translation work required particular care, ensuring that cultural nuances and local terminology were preserved while maintaining the authenticity and impact of both the personal testimonials and educational content.
Impact Through Authentic Connection
The success of the campaign lay in its dual approach – combining the emotional impact of real victim stories with practical, actionable education about scam prevention. The personal testimonials created emotional connection and demonstrated real consequences, while the educational videos equipped viewers with specific knowledge to protect themselves.
By presenting both victim experiences and prevention strategies across multiple formats and languages, the campaign created a comprehensive resource that could serve different community needs. Some viewers might connect more strongly with personal stories, while others would benefit from the structured educational approach.
Time Makes All The Difference
Delivering this volume of content within a three-month timeline required exceptional coordination between all parties. From initial victim outreach and location scouting, through filming days across Melbourne, to post-production, animation, and multi-language delivery – every element needed to align perfectly.
The collaboration with Burninghouse proved essential, with their internal animation capabilities allowing for seamless integration of visual elements while maintaining consistent quality across all deliverables. Their understanding of both the technical requirements and the sensitive nature of the content ensured that every video met the high standards required for such an important public awareness campaign.
The ACCC Scam Awareness Week 2025 campaign demonstrated that effective public education requires more than just information – it needs authentic human connection combined with practical knowledge, delivered in formats that meet people where they are. Through careful storytelling and comprehensive production, we created resources that will continue protecting Australians long after Scam Awareness Week concluded.
