WITH an increasing number of cyber-attacks and data breaches making the news, it is more important than ever to be vigilant when it comes to keeping your personal data secure. If your information was stolen, you may find yourself the target of new and persistent scam attempts from individuals armed with your personal details and with one goal in mind – to steal your money.
There are a few things however you can do to protect yourself, explained Maddison Schultz, fraud officer at GMCU.
“The important thing is awareness. Every time you receive an unexpected message, e-mail, or phone call, ask yourself – is this really who they say they are?”
Scammers have a history of pretending to be trusted businesses or government agencies to gain your trust, but increasingly, they have started pretending to be your family members as well.
“We are seeing scammers start to impersonate family members such as children or grandchildren, claiming they lost or broke their phone and pleading for emergency money to help get them out of trouble. While your first instinct is likely to help out as quick as you can, it’s always worth taking a breath and verifying the situation before you do anything.
“Another method that we are seeing more of is the placement of ads in search engines designed to resemble your internet banking. If you click them, you will be taken to a website designed to look just like your usual bank website. However, when you enter your login information, this goes straight to the scammer. The advice here is to never access your internet banking directly from a search engine – always go to the official home page (such as www.gmcu.com.au) first.”
If you are concerned that you have been the target of scammers, please contact your bank as soon as possible.
“The important thing to know is that you can hang up or ignore a message and verify with the company or family member before you act. You should also remember that we will never ask you for your banking login information – and no one should! If anyone asks for this, you should end the conversation and call your bank directly for advice,” Maddison said.
GMCU has an internal fraud department and external fraud monitoring services working to keep your accounts safe from suspicious transactions, around the clock. Visit your local branch or go to gmcu.com.au to find out more about how GMCU keeps its members safe.
