There are hundreds of different scams out there that come in the forms of letters, emails, phone calls, social media and websites. Although they disguise themselves in different ways, they usually all have the same goal: to get your money, steal your personal information or use you to facilitate proceeds of crime.
It's best to be suspicious of any contact you weren’t expecting. Taking time to consider an offer could be the difference between being caught in a scam and avoiding a scam.
If you don’t have time to review all of the common scams outlined below, here are some key things you should do to protect your information:
- Protect your accounts: Never save your passwords, PIN or credentials on your devices (or write them down) and change them regularly.
- Create strong passwords: Use unique, complex passwords for all your online accounts, especially your bank accounts. Never share them with anyone. Consider using a password manager to create and store strong passwords securely.
- Guard your social media: Limit the amount of personal information you share on social, especially your date of birth, address, and financial details. Be mindful of who you connect with and adjust your privacy settings.
- Shred Documents: Properly dispose of sensitive documents containing personal information like bank statements or credit cards.
- Verify information: Check both the name of the account and the account name itself before initiating any transfer or payment. Unity does not check account names when processing payments, we only use the account number. Check carefully, as mismatched information is a red flag for potential scams.
Some important things to remember:
- We will never ask for your PIN, password, or any other sensitive information via email, text, or phone call.
- Stay informed: Regularly update yourself on the latest fraud and scam trends. A great place to start is Netsafe.
- Report anything suspicious: If you suspect fraudulent activity on your account, contact us immediately.
If you need any further information, we’re here to help! Otherwise check out the resources at: Scams | Banking Ombudsman Scheme (bankomb.org.nz)