Australia's big banks have responded to the growing threat of scammers through a new campaign - hear the alarm bells.
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The Australian Banking Association has launched the initiative to raise awareness of a series of scam scenarios and to provide customers with tools to beat the fraudsters.
ABA chief executive Anna Bligh said the campaign would offer practical tips to help customers to protect themselves from scammers.
"As scams grow ever more complex and sophisticated, vigilance is required from all of us at all times," Ms Bligh said.
Dos and don'ts
Dos
- Pause to question the authenticity of a text message, an email, a call or a person who claims to be from a trusted organisation. In doubt? Call back on the publicly listed phone number before taking action.
- Register a PayID securely through your bank and not via a third party, and use PayID where you can.
- Set-up two factor authentication to protect your accounts and online banking.
- Check the legitimacy of any invoices or bills, and use PayID whenever possible.
- Immediately report any suspicious activity directly to your bank.
Don'ts
- Provide banking information, passwords or two-factor identification codes over the phone or via text to anyone even if you know them - contact the bank through official channels only.
- Login to your online banking via links sent through email or text
- Click on suspicious emails, links or texts.
- Transfer money unless you're certain it's going to the right person
- Provide personal information to anyone you don't know personally unless you know it's for a legitimate purpose
Industry on scammers
Ms Bligh said Australians could take effective, preventative steps to help protect themselves against fraud and scams.
She said it was a collaborative effort between the banks, community, government and other industries to fight the crime.
"The campaign includes reminders such as 'banks will never call you and ask you to transfer money to another account' and to 'always check you're dealing with a legitimate organisation'."
The campaign has provided five tips which banks will never do, which are the following:
- call and ask people to transfer funds to another account over the phone.
- contact you to ask for any account or personal details in an unsolicited text or email.
- ask for online banking passcodes or passwords over email, text or phone.
- ask for remote access to your devices.
- threaten you to take immediate action on an issue.
Premier commends association
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff praised the ABA's efforts and reminded everyone to be "absolutely vigilant".
"If you've got an email, you receive scams effectively on a daily basis," Mr Rockliff said.
"If you have a suspicion that something is not quite right, then don't go any further and see advice."
He said any information into the community sharing knowledge on scammers was welcomed.
"Criminal hackers that want to take your money and your funds, and we have heard of many circumstances where that has devastated individuals," he said.
"So I can only applaud each and every community member to seek advice, be vigilant, and if it doesn't appear legit or quite right? Then most likely it isn't. So don't take that risk."
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