We are aware of reports that scammers are targeting the customers of a number of Australian financial institutions, posing as staff via SMS and phone calls to try and gain access to internet banking facilities.
As yet, we have not received reports of G&C Mutual Bank members being specifically targeted, however we always encourage members to remain vigilant, monitor for unusual activity on your accounts, and to look out for contact by scammers.
We remind our members that G&C Mutual Bank will never ask you to disclose your PIN or SMS One Time Password (SMS OTP) in an unsolicited email, SMS or phone call.
What to look out for
In the examples being shared by other institutions, the scammers may call or send an SMS advising that your bank will contact you shortly and then call. The call or text may appear as though it comes from your bank. The scammer will suggest that your internet banking has been compromised or hacked, and request your account details including SMS one-time codes. They will advise that they are changing your old 'compromised' account so you will not need to do anything and shouldn't access your account until they contact you again. This is a scam.
If you receive a message like this or an unsolicited call from anyone claiming to be from G&C Mutual Bank, do not click on any suspicious links and/or provide personal information. Please contact us to report any suspicious activity.
As has been widely reported in the media, a number of organisations in Australia have recently been the target of cyberattacks. Customers of Optus, Medibank, and AHM may have had their personal information compromised. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Scamwatch is warning customers to proactively take steps to protect their accounts and watch out for scams following these data breaches.
Need help?
If you believe someone has gained access to your personal information, even if the scam appears unrelated to your finances, you should contact your bank immediately. A timely response can be critical in giving you the best chance to stem any loss.
- If you have concerns about your G&C Mutual Bank account, contact us on 1300 364 400.
- You can find out how scams work, how to protect yourself, what to do if you’ve been scammed or report a scam to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) via the Scamwatch website.
As always, G&C Mutual Bank remains committed to your security and privacy online. To understand how we help to keep you safe, please refer to our Security page and for information on common scams and how to protect yourself, please visit the News section of our website.
