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Australians are being urged to be vigilant for cyber criminals this Valentine's Day after a record-breaking $56 million was lost to romance scams in the past year alone.

In 2021 consumer watchdog Scamwatch reported receiving 3,400 reports from victims and family member of victims who fell victim to romance scams.

Reported losses to these scams topped more than $56 million, with the true cost of romance scams likely being far higher as embarrassment or shame prevents more victims from submitting an official report.

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Scamwatch estimates as little as 13 per cent of victims report their losses.

"It's important to look out for friends or family members who are using online dating apps and talk about how to spot romance scams," ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

"Talking about scams, including your own experiences, can help others identify them and may prevent them from falling victim in the future."

More than half of reported romance scams occurred on social networking websites or dating apps, where users reported scammers using "emotional triggers" to take advantage of victims.

Often the scammers will employ a tactic called "love bombing", where they profess love for the victim quickly and shower them with affection.

Once a connection is established the scammer typically invents an elaborate story that asks the victim to send money, gifts or financial information to aid them.

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Another technique used by romance scammers is called "romance baiting", whereby after establishing a connection the scammer will encourage the victim to invest in a scheme, often cryptocurrency.

"Scammers can come up with endless reasons to try and convince you to send money. If you start to feel pressured by your admirer, stop communicating with them," Ms Rickard said.

"Another red flag to look out for is when scammers provide constant excuses as to why they cannot meet in person or use the video function."

Of the victims who reported their losses to Scamwatch, many were older: Australians aged over 55 made up almost half of all victims with women reporting higher losses than men.

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Ms Rickard said simple steps people can take to avoid romance scams is to keep all financial information private, and to Google a person's identity before committing further.

"Never send money or give personal or financial information to someone you've only met online. Think very carefully about taking investment or financial advice from someone on a dating app, " Ms Rickard said.

"Do an internet search with the name or photo of your love interest or some of the phrases they have used to try to identify if it is a scam."

If somebody thinks they have been the victim of a romance scam, they are urged to contact their bank or financial institution as quickly as possible, as well as the platform in which they met the scammer.

As well as financial losses, romance scams can also cause significant emotional suffering. Anyone experiencing emotional distress about their experience with a scam, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

A Queensland man has been charged with murder after the bodies of a married couple were found inside a burned Brisbane home.

Real estate salesman Joseph Stephan, 73 and his 68-year-old wife Christine were discovered dead inside their Hannant Street property in Collingwood Park, a suburb of Ipswich, on January 23.

Firefighters had been called after the home was engulfed in flames.

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The couple's black Mercedes Benz was missing, presumed stolen, and police investigating the incident later released CCTV of a man walking nearby streets who they believed could be involved in the alleged murders.

Police last night charged a 26-year-old Zillmere man with two counts of murder, arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Blanchfield thanked the community for their assistance, while appealing for any CCTV and dashcam footage of the black Mercedes recorded around the area on the date of the alleged murders.

"While the vehicle has been located, any information regarding its movements is of great importance to us while investigations are ongoing," Detective Acting Superintendent Blanchfield said.

The investigation is continuing.

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The second of five whales brought from Canada to Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium last year for research purposes has died.

The aquarium announced on its website that the female beluga whale had been receiving intensive care for the past several months for multiple health issues, but died early on Friday morning.

A necropsy was to be performed to determine the cause of death.

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"Veterinarians and animal care experts at Mystic Aquarium, with the support of veterinarians and animal husbandry members from other aquariums worldwide, devoted the full capacity of their expertise to the whale, providing round-the-clock medical treatment, testing, and 24-hour monitoring," the aquarium said in a statement.

A male beluga named Havok, who had a pre-existing gastrointestinal issue, died in August.

The two whales were among five brought to Mystic last spring from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, after a lengthy legal battle to obtain permits from both the United States and Canada.

Animal rights activists had sued unsuccessfully to block the transport, alleging a permit granted by the US Commerce secretary and National Marine Fisheries Service didn't adequately address the potential harm to the belugas caused by being moved to the Connecticut aquarium.

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The whales, which ranged in age from seven to 12 at the time of the transport, were born in captivity, and officials say they cannot safely be released into the ocean.

Mystic officials had said at the time the five whales left behind an overcrowded habitat with about 50 other Belugas in Canada. Officials had said the animals were to be trained to voluntarily give blood, saliva, blowhole air and other samples in exchange for rewards.

The Animal Welfare Institute, a Washington, DC-based animal protection advocacy organisation, called for an investigation into the deaths in a statement on its website.

Dr Stephen Coan, Mystic Aquarium's president and CEO, said the aquarium has addressed issues raised during a visit last fall by the US Department of Agriculture after the first whale died. Those included the handling of animals with vision challenges, certain fluctuations in water quality and shade for animals.

"Inspections, investigations when an animal dies, and accreditation processes are essential learning tools to advance the care and welfare of animals," Mr Coan said in the aquarium's statement. "We are constantly seeking to evolve and learn in our mission to provide the best possible care for animals."

Queensland's south east is in for a drenching and storms this week, while temperatures are set to tip over 40C in southern Western Australia again.

A large amount of rain is forecast for the bottom of Queensland in coming days, with areas of the Sunshine Coast, Yeppoon and Gladstone to bear the brunt of the showers.

Up to 30 millimetres of rain is expected in some areas, with the showers to begin from today.

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Brisbane is set for a top of 28C today.

Meanwhile, Perth will reach a top of 36C today with humid conditions and a possible storm.

Weatherzone meteorologists have warned the high heat southwestern WA has experienced this summer will return later this week.

Perth is tipped to reach 40C on Friday, which would be close to 9C above average and the third day to exceed 40C so far this February, according to Weatherzone.

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However, it will be even hotter in areas along the coast of the Central West district in Geraldton, which are expected to experience temperatures above 40 degrees for a least two days, most likely on Wednesday and Thursday.

Warm and sunny days are predicted for Melbourne and Adelaide today, with both cities set to experience highs of 32C, while it will be mostly sunny and reach 29C in Canberra.

It will be party cloudy and a top of 28C in Sydney today.

Further north in New South Wales, a hazardous surf warning has been issued for Byron Coast, Coffs Coast and Macquarie Coast.

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1492972085098033153

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming.

Darwin could experience a possible storm, with temperatures to reach 33C, while it will only get to 20C in Hobart.

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Deputy Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud has tested positive to COVID-19 following the first sitting week of Parliament.

Mr Littleproud broke the news on Twitter this afternoon, explaining he woke up feeling unwell this morning.

He immediately took a PCR test, which returned a positive result for COVID-19.

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https://twitter.com/D_LittleproudMP/status/1492728595332038656

"I have had vaccinations and a booster and will now comply with ACT health orders," he said.

In the ACT, everyone who tests positive to COVID-19 must isolate for at least seven days.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts were meeting on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) in Hawaii to discuss the threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea after Pyongyang began the year with a series of missile tests.

Mr Blinken gathered in Honolulu with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong.

Defence chiefs from the three countries last week said North Korea's recent missile tests were destabilising to regional security.

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Some experts say North Korea is using the weapon's tests to put pressure on President Joe Biden's administration to resume long-stalled nuclear negotiations as the pandemic puts further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions.

Mr Biden's administration has offered North Korea open-ended talks but has shown no willingness to ease the sanctions without meaningful cuts to the country's nuclear program.

The tests also have a technical component, allowing North Korea to hone its weapons arsenal.

One of the missiles recently tested — the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile — is capable of reaching the US territory of Guam.

It was the longest-distance weapon the North has tested since 2017.

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North Korea appears to be pausing its tests during the Winter Olympics in China, its most important ally and economic lifeline.

But analysts believe North Korea will dramatically increase its weapons testing after the Olympics.

The recent tests have rattled Pyongyang's neighbours in South Korea and Japan.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who helped set up the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, said last month that the tests were a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and urged the North to cease "actions that create tensions and pressure".

The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings.

Mr Blinken arrived in Hawaii from Fiji, where he met with Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and other Pacific leaders to talk about regional issues, especially the existential risk posed by climate change.

It was the first visit by a US secretary of state to Fiji since 1985.

He started his Pacific tour in Australia, where he met his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan.

The four nations form the "Quad," a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies that was created to counter China's regional influence.

Mr Hayashi and Mr Chung held a separate bilateral meeting Saturday for about 40 minutes before seeing Mr Blinken.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said they reaffirmed the importance of cooperating together and with the United States to respond to North Korea and to achieve regional stability.

The ministry said they also "frankly" exchanged views on ongoing disputes between the two countries, including wartime Korean laborers and sexual abuse of Korean women forced into sexual servitude by Japan's imperial army.

Mr Blinken also met separately with Mr Chung. He met Mr Hayashi earlier this week in Australia.