Fraud alert April 2024

FraudSMART is advising consumers to be on alert for text message and phone scams currently in circulation claiming to be from your bank. 

These are very convincing and sophisticated scams so please read the information below in order to protect your personal information and access to your bank account. 

How does the scam happen? 

• You may receive a phone call and/or text message which creates a sense of urgency in relation to a ‘suspicious payment’ from your account or other security issue. 

• A text message may ask you to click on a link, call a number or even expect a call from their security team using a landline or private ID.  

• If you do click the link you may find yourself on a fraudulent online banking login page that mimics the real bank login page. 

• In some cases you may receive an authorisation code and be asked to input it on screen to ‘reactivate your account’ or ‘cancel a fraudulent payment’ – however this actually gives the fraudster access to your account. 

• If you receive a fraudulent call the number may mimic the genuine number of the bank. If you find yourself on a suspicious call, the fraudster will try to get personal, financial and security information. 

• The fraudster may imply that if you don’t act immediately, it will have negative consequences, for example, that money will be lost from your account.
   
• The fraudster may even advise you to delete your mobile banking app or ask you not to log into your bank accounts for a period of time. In order to make you believe this instruction

• Do not use phone numbers provided within the text of a text message. Contact your bank using the number on the back of your debit / credit card. 
• Do not reply to unsolicited text messages or provide personal or financial information.  
• Do not click on a link or attachment from unsolicited emails or text messages. 
• If someone is pressurising you on the phone to take urgent action, hang up and call the number on the bank of your debit / credit card.   
• Never give away personal information, bank card payment details, bank account details or security details such as your PIN or online password to anyone.  
• Block the sender of a suspicious email or text message and delete the message.  
• Contact your bank immediately, if you think you have responded to a scam text message or phone call.