Latest banking security threats

See the latest threats targeting your personal and business information.

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2020 threats

Phishing email

Scammers are currently sending emails to customers posing as Bankwest. This email asks you to follow a link and then enter your card details, or log in to online banking. Remember – we’ll never ask you for personal details via email, or give you a direct link to online banking.

Cold calls

Recently, we’ve seen a spike in scammers calling customers and posing as us to request card details. If you receive a call like this, make sure you don’t give out any details and hang up straight away.

Amazon scam

This one involves an email or phone call from scammers pretending to be from Amazon. Scammers claim that you’re due for a refund and prompt you to give your card details. If you receive an email or call like this, make sure you don't reply or provide any card details. It might also be a good idea to reach out to Amazon directly to let them know.

If you’ve followed any of these links or think a scammer has your details, make sure you get in touch.

Mail delivery related scams

This scam tries to get access to your card details by claiming to be from postal delivery services, both via email and SMS. The email, which you can see an example of below, prompts you to pay for shipping costs for a parcel delivery and gives you a link to a fake website which tries to get you to enter your card and personal details.

The SMS version of this scam claims that a parcel has been kept at a sorting office for you. It also contains a link to a fake website to try and prompt you to pay a fee to release the parcel. If you receive either of these messages, don’t click on the link or respond.

Free giveaway scams

This scam involves an iPhone giveaway across Facebook, Instagram, Google and YouTube. You’ll see a pop up on your screen promising you a free iPhone for a small delivery fee, which then links to a fake website that prompts you to enter your card and personal details. Alternatively, you might be asked to complete a survey to receive the iPhone. Make sure you ignore these pop-ups.

Coronavirus-related scams

We're currently seeing many instances of scammers impersonating business and government authorities using COVID-19 messages. We've also seen a number of coronavirus-related online shopping scams.

A few specific examples to watch out for are:

Flight refund scam
Scammers are targeting people who are waiting for refunds from airlines that cancelled flights due to the coronavirus shutdown.

The messages include a fake flight refund form and they tell customers to fill it in with their name and credit card details. Using this trick, cybercriminals could collect personal and financial information and use them to carry out a broad range of malicious activities. Data gathered could be also offered for sale on the dark web.

To confirm the source of emails or messages you receive, directly contact the company using a phone number from the company’s website or from a phone number search via the White Pages online directory.

Bitcoin threat phishing email
A phishing email has been circulating demanding that customers buy and send $2,000 worth of Bitcoin within 24 hours to prevent the release of compromising material to their contacts.

The email and password included in the email is likely to have been obtained through an external data leakage from an unknown source and may be a previous password the customer has used for their device or banking.

Texts that appear to come from ‘GOV’ and ‘MyGov’
There have been multiple reports of texts that appear to come from ‘GOV’ and ‘MyGov’, with links to more information related to COVID-19.

For more information about coronavirus-related scams, visit the Stay Smart Online and Scamwatch websites.

2019 threats

Blocked card phishing email

This email comes from an unauthorised party posing as us, attempting to get your personal details. They claim that your Bankwest card is blocked and ask you to click on a link to unblock it.

The link takes you to a fake version of Bankwest Online Banking (BOB), which takes your details after you log in, then shows a form asking for some personal and account info.

Look out for:

Direct links to BOB (we won’t ever do this)
Unfamiliar screens - especially if they ask for your card details and personal info
Use of a generic greeting instead of your name.

Fake Bankwest fraud investigation call

Scam callers are pretending to be part of our fraud department, asking you to help with an internal investigation.

They ask you to confirm the amount of money in your account and to withdraw cash to deposit at another bank. The scammer also asks you not to speak to anyone, so you don’t tip off the employee being investigated.

If you’ve received a call like this, don’t provide any of your details or do as they ask. If you already have, call us on 13 17 19.

Things to look out for:

Anyone claiming to be from Bankwest – if you’re unsure, ask if you can call back on 13 17 19 (our official phone number)
We’ll never ask a customer to participate in an internal investigation
We’ll never ask you to transfer money to another financial institution on our behalf.

Fake Bankwest email and form

This email comes from an unauthorised party posing as us with the subject line ‘Bankwest Suspension Notification’. Once opened, it asks you to fill out an attached form which provides the fraudster with your details.

If you've received an email like this, don’t open the attachment or provide any of your details. If you already have, call us on 13 17 19.

Things to look out for:

A generic greeting instead of your name
We’ll never ask for personal info in an email
The sender has a suspicious email address that’s not from Bankwest.

Fake Bankwest emails

These emails come from an unauthorised party posing as us, attempting to lure you into clicking on the supplied links and providing your bank details.

One email asks you to visit a link to avoid having your credit card suspended. The other asks you to log into Bankwest Online Banking (BOB) to see a new ‘SecureMail’ message.

If you've received emails like these, don't click the links or provide any of your details. If you already have, call us on 13 17 19.

Things to look out for:

A generic greeting instead of your name
Direct links to BOB (we won’t ever do this)
The sender has a suspicious email address that’s not from Bankwest.

Fake SMS and Bankwest Online Banking (BOB) login page

This SMS comes from an unauthorised party posing as us, attempting to lure you into visiting their link. The link sends you to a fake BOB login page which asks for your Personal Access Number (PAN) and secure code. You’re then directed to a fake ‘Verification’ page which asks for further details like your date of birth and mobile number. After these details are entered, the fake website redirects to our real website to try and make their request look legitimate.

If you've received an SMS like this, don't follow the link or try to respond as it’s not sent from us. If you already have, call us on 13 17 19.

Things to look out for:

We’ll never send you a direct link to the BOB login page
New screens like the ‘Verification’ screen
Requests to enter more information such as your name, date of birth or phone number
Phishing websites that are designed to look like our website, but have a different URL.

2018 threats

Fake Bankwest verification SMS

This SMS comes from an unauthorised party posing as us, attempting to lure you into clicking on the supplied link and providing your banking details. If you've received an SMS like this, don’t follow the link or try to respond. If you already have, call us on 13 17 19.

Things to look out for:

We’ll never send you a link using https://bit.ly
We’ll never send a direct link to the BOB login page
Use of a generic greeting instead of your name.

Fake BPAY email

This email comes from an unauthorised party posing as BPAY or a biller, advising you of a biller code, CRN and an attachment with an order number. If you've received an email like this, don't attempt to view or download the attachment as it may be malicious. If you've already clicked on the links, call us on 13 17 19.

Things to look out for: