Key points
- ob体育 has received reports that consumers are being targeted by scammers impersonating ob体育 employees.
- Scammers are offering to help consumers recover funds, usually lost via an initial scam. In this follow-up scam, they ask for payment to help retrieve funds.
- ob体育 would never ask for money or crypto-currency to retrieve funds that have been invested or lost. ob体育 will never request direct transfers of money into a personal bank account or crypto-wallet.
Warning signs
Warning signs that contact from ob体育 (or any government agency) is not legitimate include:
- Requesting money through unsolicited contact on the telephone, SMS or email,
- Requesting to click on a link to confirm personal details,
- Requesting upfront payment for goods or services, and
- Requesting that payment be made via crypto-currency or into a personal bank account.
ob体育 does聽not聽endorse particular investments. ob体育 never gives permission to use its logo or the names of its staff to promote financial products or services.聽You should be wary of any website or advert that states the investment is approved by ob体育, Moneysmart or contains ob体育鈥檚 logos 鈥� it could be a scam.
You can call ob体育鈥檚 Customer Contact Centre on 1300 300 630 for verification if you are unsure whether you鈥檙e dealing with an ob体育 employee.
Tips to protect yourself
- Be cautious when clicking on hyperlinks embedded in SMS and emails - do not click on links or attachments in emails from unknown sources.
- Keep your personal information and passwords secure - don't share your password with others and change your passwords regularly.
- Be suspicious of unsolicited contact, especially when the caller asks for money.
- If you鈥檝e opened an email that looks suspicious, don鈥檛 click any links, open any attachments or reply to it.
- Be very cautious of requests to allow remote access to your computer.
Think you have been scammed?
What to do if you think you, or someone you know, has been scammed
- Stop sending money, even if the entity has requested money to 鈥榳ithdraw funds鈥� 鈥� if the entity asks this it鈥檚 likely you鈥檙e being scammed.
- Report it to your bank or financial institution.
For more information, visit ob体育鈥檚 Moneysmart聽听辫补驳别.
Report scams聽
If you notice ob体育鈥檚 logo or references to Moneysmart and ob体育 staff on a company鈥檚 promotional materials聽submit a report of misconduct to ob体育. Include a link to the website or a screenshot.
You can also make a report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre at聽 and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission at .
Your report may disrupt the scammers and hopefully will warn others to avoid it.
Further support
If you need someone to talk to, contact:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours) or their crisis support聽 (7pm 鈥� 12am) or
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 (24 hours) or their聽 (1pm 鈥� 12am)
If you are experiencing problems with debt, contact:
- the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm) or聽