Our commitment to secure banking practices
Your security is our priority, and we want you to have the ultimate peace of mind when it comes to your money. At Summerland Bank, we leave no stone unturned to ensure your money is well protected with robust encryption software, multi-factor authentication and advanced security measures. However, the best defence is always a joint effort, which means that we all must remain vigilant and informed of any potential attempts at identity theft or fraud.
How we communicate with customers
As part of our commitment to fraud prevention and detection, our team may call, email or SMS you to confirm a transaction. However, we will never:
- Ask you to disclose your personal banking details, PIN, card number, or any other information on your card in an unsolicited email, SMS, or telephone call; or
- Ask you to click on a link in an email, which then asks you to log in to your account and verify your details.
Always validate that you are accessing the official Summerland Bank website by closely inspecting the URL. This is the correct site: https://summerland.com.au/
What to look out for
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and protecting your personal information is more important than ever. Here are some common examples of fraud, identity theft and scams to be on the lookout for.
Identity theft
Identity theft is when fraudsters steal your personal information, such as your name, date of birth, address and other details, and use it to impersonate you and steal money or other assets. Fraudsters can use stolen personal information to apply for credit in your name.
Tips for staying safe
Keep yourself and your personal information safe by securing your personal documents at home or putting a lock on your mailbox. Regularly review your bank statements and be alert for any unusual bank transactions or missing mail. And limit the amount of personal information you publish online or on social media.
Internet banking fraud
Internet banking fraud is when an unauthorised person accesses your internet banking to get personal details or transfer funds from your account. It can happen when your computer or device has been infected with malware or when you provide your login details to another party.
Tips for staying safe
Ensure you have strong passwords and use a different password for your internet banking than the one you use for other sites. Do not give your internet banking password to anyone. Avoid using internet banking on public computers or on an unsecured internet connection (including free WiFi).
Phishing scams
This looks like unsolicited messages or emails asking for personal or financial information. For example, you receive a message from a number you don’t know claiming to be your child or a loved one who has lost their phone and needs money transferred. It’s common for these tactics to employ urgency and put pressure on you to respond quickly. You might also be asked to pay using wire transfers, gift cards, or other unconventional methods.
Tips for staying safe
If you receive a suspicious Whatsapp message, SMS message or email from a ‘family member’ that you think might be fraudulent, do not respond. Instead, try to call or SMS them on the number you have and ask if they sent you a message to confirm.
Remote access scams
Remote access scams occur when you allow someone to access your computer or mobile device by clicking on a link, a pop up or downloading an application or program. Scammers will often ask you to download a program that allows them to access your computer from wherever they are.
Tips for staying safe
Treat all unsolicited offers and too-good-to-be-true deals with caution and do not click on links from unverified sources. Do not download remote access software on any of your devices further to an unsolicited contact. Always verify the legitimacy of parties you are engaging with.
Counterfeit cards or skimming devices
Skimming devices are sneaky tools that fraudsters attach to ATMs or point-of-sale terminals to secretly swipe your card’s information. They’re often undetectable at a glance, capturing the details stored on your card’s magnetic stripe, including the card number and your PIN. The card’s details are then transferred over to a counterfeit card, mimicking the look and feel of genuine cards, and are used to make unauthorized transactions and access your account.
Tips for staying safe
Safeguard yourself by inspecting card slots before you use your card and shield your PIN at ATMs and point-of-sale terminals. Keep your card in sight at all times when making transactions (treat it like cash) and regularly check your balance or statement.
Impersonating businesses
There has been a concerning trend involving scammers impersonating businesses like Summerland Bank across various digital channels. Through online ads, social media, text messages, emails, and even phone calls, these impostors often try to mirror the visual identity of legitimate organisations, making it even harder to spot. These sites may prompt you to input sensitive personal information like your Summerland member number, passwords, and contact details.
Tips for staying safe
Be extremely cautious when divulging sensitive information, such as PINs, passwords, or personal details. Look for signs of suspicious grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. And in the event you suspect you have engaged with a deceitful website or clicked on a malicious link, reach out to us immediately at 1300 728 728.
What to do if you suspect fraud
If you suspect fraud or have a security concern, please reach out to our friendly local team immediately on 1300 728 728 during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm), or on 0467 953 309 on weekends or public holidays (8am-6pm).
You are always welcome to determine the authenticity of any email or SMS communications by directly emailing: [email protected].
You can protect yourself further by staying up-to-date with current scams affecting others in the community, and the various tactics being used, by visiting: www.scamwatch.gov.au
Other ways to protect yourself
While the convenience of online shopping has certainly made buying and selling on the internet very appealing, it is important to be careful when it comes to sharing personal and financial information online. The same goes for in-store purchases or ATMs. Here are some tips to help keep you safe.
Protection tips
- Avoid using ATMs that look unusual or that you think have been tampered with
- Only enter your PIN on devices that look like genuine payment terminals
- Check your bank statements regularly to ensure you recognise all of the transactions
- Make sure the websites you are shopping from are secure and have “https” in the URL when you are in their checkout/purchase process
- Regularly update your virus protection software from your security software provider
- Keep unique and different passwords for each shopping account, bank account, card account, and email account
Remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
ASIC Investor alert list:
ASIC has published a new investor alert list, which can be used to help inform people as to whether an entity they are considering investing in could be fraudulent, a scam or unlicensed.
This investor alert list can help you know which companies, businesses and websites (or ‘entities’) are not to be trusted.
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