Fraud Awareness
In today’s fast-paced digital world, keeping your money safe is more important than ever. With scammers getting smarter by the day, it’s crucial to stay on your toes to avoid falling victim to their tricks.
From suspicious emails to shady websites, they’ll try just about anything to get hold of your sensitive financial info. But fear not! By staying informed and being proactive, you can outsmart these scammers and keep your hard-earned cash where it belongs—safely in your pocket.
NEVER
- Click on or open suspicious links and attachments.
- Respond to unsolicited text messages or emails.
- Provide your full banking details in a pop-up window.
WE WILL NEVER
- Ask for your Online Account login details or personal information.
- Ask you to share your full Login Pin or password.
- Request your account information through an onscreen pop-up window.
- Send you a link directly to the login page of our online page.
- Ask you to transfer money out of your account to protect yourself from fraud.
Common Fraud Schemes
Phishing typically refers to fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, or financial details, by impersonating trustworthy entities via email. These deceptive emails often contain links to fake websites that mimic legitimate ones, where victims are prompted to enter their personal information. Phishing can also involve email attachments containing malware that, when opened, infects the victim’s device.
Smishing is a form of phishing that occurs via text message (SMS) instead of email. Scammers send text messages pretending to be from legitimate organisations, such as banks or government agencies, and typically include a phone number or link that directs recipients to a fake website or prompts them to reply with sensitive information. Like phishing emails, smishing messages often use urgent or alarming language to pressure recipients into taking immediate action.
Vishing, short for “voice phishing,” involves fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information over the phone. Scammers typically use automated voice messages or personally call individuals, posing as representatives of legitimate organisations, such as banks or government agencies. They may use various tactics to deceive victims into disclosing personal or financial information, such as account numbers or passwords. Vishing scams often exploit fear or urgency, such as threatening legal action or claiming that the victim’s accounts have been compromised.
Tech Support Scams occur when fraudsters contact individuals claiming to be from reputable technology companies, such as Microsoft or Apple, and falsely alert them to issues with their computer or software. They may persuade victims to grant remote access to their device or pay for unnecessary technical support services. In reality, these scammers aim to install malware on the victim’s device or extract payment for non-existent services.
Investment Fraud involves fraudulent schemes that promise high returns with little or no risk, targeting individuals seeking lucrative investment opportunities. Scammers may promote bogus investment opportunities through unsolicited phone calls, emails, or online advertisements, using false or misleading information to lure victims into investing their money. Victims may suffer significant financial losses when the promised returns fail to materialise, or the investment turns out to be fraudulent.
Overpayment Scams occur when fraudsters overpay for goods or services with a fraudulent cheque or money order and then request a refund of the excess amount. Victims refund the money before realising that the original payment was fake, leaving them out of pocket. These scams often target individuals selling items online, such as through classified ads or auction websites, and exploit their willingness to accommodate overpayments to complete the transaction.
If you suspect any fraudulent activity from any call you receive, you should ask the caller to confirm their authenticity and if still in doubt of the caller’s authenticity, end the call.
