Protect yourself from phone scams
Scammers typically call out of the blue and can even look like they’re coming from a familiar number. That’s why it’s important that you stay alert and on top of current scam trends to avoid being scammed on the phone.
What to do in the event of fraud or a scam
Received a text or call that seemed too good to be true? It usually is. Legitimate companies will never ask you to reveal passwords or financial information.
Beware of scams and stay updated on national scams by reviewing current scams at scamwatch.gov.au.
Pause
Don’t act straight away. Stop and think about what you’re being asked to do.
Real companies or government agencies won’t pressure you to make payments.
Review
Have a quick look on Google to see if the company or person is real and whether it's the right phone number.
Check to see if anyone else has had similar experiences.
Ask
If you’re still unsure, show a family member or friend and ask for their opinion before taking any action.
How to recognise a scam call
Usually, scam callers call you out of the blue and try to use scare tactics to get you to hand over personal financial information. If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.
Scammers might:
Use ‘robocalls’ or recorded messages telling you that you must act immediately and provide financial details to avoid a financial penalty.
Make you feel threatened or afraid.
Pretend that you’ve won money and request your bank details to deposit the funds.
Pretend to be from a trusted organisation (even government) to get your personal details.
Give you fake employee ID numbers to make it seem like they are really employees of a known organisation.
As technology advances, there are many ways that scammers can mimic real phone numbers to trick you into answering the call.
While it won’t stop scammers, if you receive a lot of telemarketing calls, you can also reduce these by registering your phone number on the Do Not Call Register. If your number is listed on the Do Not Call Register, it’s illegal for telemarketers to call you.
How we protect you
On a call with a Member, I could hear someone in the background. It was a scammer on the Member’s other phone, giving our Member instructions to pass onto me. I knew something wasn’t right and kept asking questions. Our Member called back the next day to thank me - my persistent questioning saved him from being scammed and losing $15,000.
How do I protect myself?
There are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself from scams.
You should:
Not answer unknown numbers or unfamiliar phone numbers - they will leave a voicemail if it’s important and you can check the phone number online to see if it’s real.
Never tell your personal details to anyone over the phone until you’ve researched and confirmed that they are in fact who they say they are.
Never let anyone who has called you out of the blue, take over your computer remotely.
Block scam phone numbers on your device (Google your device type and blocking phone numbers for instructions).
Use a password on your mobile phone.
If you think you’ve been scammed and potentially lost money, please contact our friendly customer service team immediately on 1300 654 822 and they will assist you.