Here are a few simple ways to help keep you and your banking safe.
Card safety
- Safeguard your card. Treat it like cash. Don’t leave it lying around. Make sure you know where your card is at all times. Do not give your card to anyone else to use.
- Protect your PIN. Never tell anyone your PINs or passwords – not even the police, bank staff, friends or family.
- Cover up. When entering your PIN number at ATMs and EFTPOS terminals, shield the PIN pad with your other hand. Criminals may ‘skim’ your card details by attaching a device to the card reader, and then ‘shoulder surf’ or use hidden cameras to record your PIN.
- Contact your bank immediately if you lose your card or you think the security of your card has become compromised in any way.
- Check your statements and/or review your transactions regularly. Advise your bank immediately of any unauthorised transactions.
When shopping and banking online
- Log on to internet banking by typing in your bank’s full web address. Do not use links in emails or text messages that appear to take you to your bank’s website.
- Check you have a secure connection, which is shown by a closed padlock symbol in the address bar, and that the website address starts with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.
- Avoid public computers and public Wi-Fi for internet banking, e.g. internet cafes, libraries or hotels.
- Never allow anyone to install remote access software to your home computer.
- Protect your identity information and only provide it to trusted people and organisations. This includes your date of birth, address, driver licence number and passport details.
- Shop with trusted retailers online. Check the security of the website. Before you provide personal information make sure they will protect that information.
- Keep your anti-virus and firewall software up to date.
- If you suspect you’ve been taken in by a scam and your bank account may have been compromised, contact your bank immediately.
If you use your mobile phone or device for banking
- Only download apps from trusted sources.
- Keep your device’s operating systems up to date, and update apps when prompted.
- Use your phone’s password lock feature.
- Shield your passwords from people around you.
- Change your passwords periodically, and make sure they are not easy to guess. Do not share your banking app password or PIN with anyone.
- If available, use anti-virus software.
