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Learn how to reduce your risk of being scammed at our upcoming member education sessions.
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Remain vigilant and protect yourself from scammers

Scams succeed because they look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it. Scammers take advantage of new technology, new products or services and major events to create believable stories that convince you to give them your money or personal details.

Helping protect our members against the rise of fraud and scams is a key priority for RACQ.

Be alert and protect yourself against scams

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) recommends:


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    Stop - Take your time before giving money or personal information to anyone

    Scammers will offer to help you or ask you to verify who you are.  They will pretend to be from organisations you know and trust like a business you deal with, police, government or fraud service. 

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    Think – Ask yourself could the message or call be fake? 

    Never click a link in a message and ask a trusted friend or family member what they would do. Only contact businesses or government using contact information from their official website or through their secure apps. If you’re not sure say no, hang up or delete.

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    Protect – Act quickly if something feels wrong

    Contact your bank immediately if you lose money or personal information or if you notice some unusual activity on your cards or accounts. Seek help from organisations like IDCARE and report online crime to ReportCyber.

How scammers may target you

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Websites
Unsecured websites can compromise your personal information. Be sure to look for the lock symbol at the top next to the web address to ensure the site is secure.
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Emails
Scammers use legitimate-looking emails or messages to get you to click on a link and log in with your personal details. Avoid this by going directly to an official company website to conduct your business.
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Phone
If you get a call from someone asking you for personal information, hang up. A legitimate company will not call and ask invasive questions. It’s more likely that it is a scammer trying to get your details.
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Text or SMS
A common text scam includes sending a link to check the status of a delivery. Do not click on links that you’re not expecting. Instead, go to the official website of the company to check it out.
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Social media
Practices like ‘catfishing’ where someone lures you into a personal relationship using a fake persona are common on social media. Be careful of what you share with others online.
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In-person
Scammers might door knock or invite you to sign up for their group and request personal information. Don’t be rushed into joining anything, take their information and do research on them.

Different types of scams to look out for

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    Romance scams
    Scammers develop friendships or relationships via social media, dating apps or gaming platforms. They build rapport and once they have developed trust might say an ‘emergency’ has occurred and they need money. It can be years before they ask for money.
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    Investment scams
    Usually proposed as a way to earn fast and easy money, investment scams prey on people looking to improve their financial position. Scammers may ask you to provide money up-front with the promise that you’ll get it back and more.
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    Product and service scams
    Sometimes scammers will advertise popular products and services at a fraction of the normal retail price. The goods may be counterfeit or not delivered at all, and they now have your information and payment details. Purchasing from authorised retailers is the best way to prevent falling for this scam.
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    Threats and extortion scams
    Scammers have been known to ‘hijack’ computers and personal accounts to try and extort money from victims. They ask for money in exchange for being able to access their account again. Be sure to protect your personal info and regularly change passwords to keep your accounts safe.
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    Jobs and employment scams
    Scammers post job opportunities on behalf of legitimate, high-profile companies. They create enticing terms to attract jobseekers with the intent of stealing your money and identity. They will often post these scams on well-known job listing sites.
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    Unexpected money
    If you get an email or message about winning a competition or lottery you did not enter, this is very likely a scam. You’ll be asked to provide your personal information or money upfront to claim your ‘prize’. Don’t let the excitement of thinking you won something cloud your judgement.
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    Impersonation scams
    Someone might use your sensitive personal information to open accounts or gain other benefits by using your name and likeness. This is why it’s important to protect your identifying information at all times.

Latest scam and fraud news from RACQ

Contact us

If you think you have provided your banking or credit card details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. 

Things to note

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.

Banking and loan products issued by Members Banking Group Limited ABN 83 087 651 054 AFSL/Australian credit licence 241195 trading as RACQ Bank. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and lending policies apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the disclosure documents for your selected product or service, including the Financial Services Guide and the Terms and Conditions, and consider if appropriate for you before deciding.

Except for RACQ Bank, any RACQ entity referred to on this page is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). That entity’s obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of RACQ Bank. RACQ Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of that entity, unless noted otherwise.