ANZ Bank has issued a warning for customers to be vigilant amid a spike in cold calls by scammers impersonating bank staff or members of the ANZ fraud team.
In a media release this afternoon, ANZ said there has been an increase in customers reporting calls in which a scammer claims they have detected a suspicious transaction. The scammer then attempts to get the customer to transfer money to what they say is a 'safe' account.
The scammers may also ask customers to reset their internet banking password and confirm what the new password is; download remote access software to their computer or phone; or ask for credit card details, online banking details, two-factor authentication codes, phone banking PIN or copies of a driver's licence.
ANZ said the scammers appear to have already gathered a significant amount of personal information about the customers they target, which were potentially obtained from phishing emails, texts, or websites.
The bank said while their fraud team may call customers "from time to time to verify unusual transactions", they would not ask for banking passwords, PINs, two-factor authentication codes, or credit card details.
The would also not ask a customer to transfer money to a 'safe' account, purchase gift cards or set up a cryptocurrency account, nor would they ask them to download software or allow remote access to the a device.
"Customers should never provide their customer number, two-factor authentication code(s), phone banking PIN or personal banking information to anyone, or grant remote access to their devices," ANZ said.
The bank said two-factor authentication codes are "an important layer of protection which should never be disclosed verbally".
They said while scammers say the code is needed to complete particular actions, such as reversing fraud transactions, two-factor authentication codes "are never required to reverse fraud transactions".
Customers who receive cold calls have been advised to hang up if they are asked for this information.
"Unfortunately, customers are increasingly being targeted by different types of scams and it’s a reminder that we all need to be careful with our private and financial information."
ANZ customers who have been a victim of a scam have been advised to call them immediately on 0800 269 296 (international +64 4 470 3142).
More information on how to keep safe online and scams to be aware of can be found on the ANZ website.
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