With the increase in cyber crimes, we urge you to be on the look out for scams and take steps to secure your personal information.
Practical steps you can take to protect your personal information include:
Regularly monitoring your account activity and reporting any unauthorised activity to us as soon as possible
Change your online banking and email passwords or other passwords on websites or apps that payments are made from
If in doubt, request a copy of your credit report or set up alerts to alert you to any accounts or loans being taken out in your name
Never provide your personal details to anyone who contacts you by phone
Take care when responding to emails and SMS, even if it seems genuine
Call us immediately on 1300 36 2000 if you have noticed any suspicious transactions or if you have any concerns
For more detailed information about protecting yourself from scams, visit the Scamwatch website.
We are aware of the Optus data breach involving the loss of Optus customer data. Our systems have not been compromised as a result of the Optus data breach. Our real-time monitoring of your accounts helps detect and protect you from unauthorised activity.
Unity Bank Protection
Keeping your account and personal information safe remains our priority.
Member information is constantly monitored for data-breaches, including the recent Optus breach. We have also implemented additional verification and transaction monitoring processes to protect our members accounts.
Protecting your own personal information
Always remain vigilant against phishing and other scam communications that may lure you into clicking on links and attachments or sharing your personal information.
Setting a strong, unique password and changing it regularly is key to keeping your accounts safe.
Enable multi-factor authentication for all online services, including online banking.
Using PayID to send money allows you to see details about who you are paying, before you pay them, helping protect you from scams.
Questions to ask & things to look out for
Do you know the sender, and do you usually receive SMS messages from the sender? Beware, scammers can mimic the phone numbers of legitimate organizations.
Does the message seem generic or does it contain errors and grammatical mistakes?
SMS Phishing, or ‘Smishing’ messages, play on your emotions by creating a sense of urgency, followed by a link to click. For example, ‘Your account is temporarily frozen, please login immediately to lift the restriction’.
If you’re concerned your ID may have already been compromised, IDCARE is an independent organisation that provides free support to individuals impacted by fraud or scams. IDCARE have released a Response Fact Sheet relating to the Optus Data Breach.
For more information on protecting your data please visit Money Smart. If you're worried or you’ve noticed a suspicious transaction, call us immediately on 1300 36 2000.
Protecting your information is our absolute priority – and there are several ways you can help too.
NEVER share your password or Internet Banking login details
We will NEVER contact you to ask for your passwords, or card or account details
We will NEVER send you an SMS containing links
So please watch out for any unexpected phone calls, SMS or emails asking for private details or information about you or your banking credentials … no matter who they say they are, or who they are pretending to be.
If you come across anything like this, or feel that something just doesn’t seem right, please report it immediately to us on 1300 36 2000.
For more information on protecting your information please visit Scamwatch.
Scams and fraud are on the rise in Australia, with scammers becoming smarter in accessing money and personal information. While we are dedicated to safeguarding your funds, it is equally important for you to take proactive steps in protecting yourself from potential online threats.
To ensure your online banking remains secure, here are some practical tips to follow.
Frequently Change Your Passwords: Your passwords are the first defence against unauthorized access. Regularly update your passwords and avoid using easily guessable information such as birthdates or common words. Opt for a minimum of 8 characters long with a strong combination of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Whenever available, enable 2FA for an added layer of security. 2FA requires a second form of verification, such as a one-time code sent to your phone, in addition to your password. This makes it significantly harder for scammers to gain unauthorized access to your account.
Regularly Monitor Your Bank Accounts: Check your bank accounts for any unusual or unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious activity to Unity Bank on 1300 36 2000.
Beware of Unsolicited Contact: Be cautious when receiving unexpected phone calls, text messages, or emails requesting personal details, especially if the sender claims to represent Unity Bank or any other financial institution. Scammers often pose as legitimate entities to gain your trust. Never provide your online banking password or SMS verification codes to anyone. If in doubt, hang up or delete the message and call us on 1300 36 2000.
Exercise Caution with Electronic Payments: Once you initiate an electronic payment to another bank account, the funds are beyond the control of your bank. Before making any transfers, double-check the recipient's details and ensure they are trustworthy.
It's important to note that Unity Bank, including our Financial Crimes team, will never ask you to transfer money to another institution, disclose your online banking security codes, or request remote access to your device. If you encounter such requests, consider them red flags and call us on 1300 36 2000 immediately.
Be cautious when receiving unexpected phone calls, text messages, or emails requesting personal details, especially if the sender claims to represent Unity Bank or any other financial institution. Scammers often pose as legitimate entities to gain your trust. Never provide your online banking password or SMS verification codes to anyone. If in doubt, hang up or delete the message and call us on 1300 36 2000.
You most likely wouldn’t hand over the keys to your front door to a stranger, nor would you invite someone into your home that you didn’t know. You’re probably also cautious to not let anyone look over your shoulder when you’re using an ATM. So why would you give someone access straight into your bank account?
It might seem extreme, but this is essentially what many people end up doing every day through remote access scams. In April 2022, Australians lost more than $1.88 million dollars in these types of scams alone.
A remote access scam occurs when a person contacts you to inform you of a problem with your computer, internet or device, and offers the software or fix for the problem. The scammer will often pretend to be a staff member from a computer or telco company, or may claim to be a technical support service provider. They may also claim you have been hacked in some way.
They may then request remote access to your computer or device to find out the problem and help fix it, by sending you a link to click. They could also request personal information, or credit card details to cover the ‘cost’ of the supposed ‘fix’ they are offering you.
While their manner may start out calm and professional, the scammers can quickly change to a more aggressive tone and put pressure on you to act.
While in the past, scam numbers may have looked like they come from overseas, these days numbers can easily be spoofed, and look like they’re coming from a local source. And you can still receive scam calls, even if you have listed your number on the Australian Government's Do Not Call Register.
If you receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming you have a problem on your device or service, Leanne Vale, Director Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience for Customer Owned Banking Association, says the best course of action is to hang up the phone.
"Your best defence is to just hang up the phone and not talk to them," she says.
"If someone calls saying they’re from a telco provider or utility company, and you think there may be some legitimacy to their claims, still hang up the phone. Then go and ring back that organisation on the official number that you have found independently."
No matter whether there is a legitimate problem or not, Leanne says a telco or utility company will never ask for access to your device. And if there is an issue and a company does reach out to you, they would never hold it against you for doing your own due diligence and calling them back independently.
"No company needs access to your device, and you should treat your device like you would your house or your car," says Leanne.
"The minute you open your bank account to these scammers, you are at risk of losing everything in there."
If you're going overseas, please let us know. It means we'll expect some transactions from overseas and can help look out for any suspicious transactions.
Update us through the banking app or by phone
Log into the Unity Bank app
Go to the Menu
Tap Travel Overseas
Enter your log in details
Add your trip details, including:- Your travel dates- The countries you plan to visit- Your contact details (email address and mobile number you'll be using overseas)
Tap Finish
If successful you'll see an onscreen confirmation.
Alternatively, you can also notify us by phone.
Left the country already? Don't worry, you can still tell us about your travel plans by following the steps above.
Contacting Unity Bank when overseas
If something goes wrong while you're away, the best way to get it sorted is by phone. Call us on +61 2 8263 3200 from 8:00am to 7:00pm (AEST) Monday to Friday. If you can't get to a phone, you can email us or get in touch via Facebook or Twitter.
