IMPORTANT: Be aware of scammers impersonating Rabobank via email, phone, SMS or other means. Rabobank employees will never ask you for your PIN, Password or for you to move your funds to “keep them safe”. If you are unsure, hang up/do not respond and call our Client Contact Centre directly.
Latest Security Threats
We’re working with the Australian Banking Association to prevent you from falling victim to any kind of financial crime, be it internet fraud, phone scams or identity theft.
The below video highlights four of the most popular scams impacting Australians at the moment.
- Invoice scams
- Investment scams
- E-toll scams
- Bank impersonation scam
More Security Threats
- Optus Cyberattack
- Backup your data before it's too late
- Rabobank warns about fictitious emails
- Backup your data before it's too late
- Watch out for fake online deals and avoid scammers this sales season
- Shipping Container Purchase ScamsABA launches new awareness campaign as scams grow
- Missed delivery, call or voicemail scams (Flubot)
- Scammers pretend to be from the AFP to target vulnerable people
- Australians lose over $70 million to bogus investment opportunities
- Email Security
- Protect yourself against ransomware attacks
- Payment redirection scams cost Australian businesses $128 million in 2020
- How to protect yourself from Phishing
- Losses to car ad scams climbing | ACCC
- Australia Post Scam Alerts
- Protecting Against Business Email Compromise
- Current COVID-19 (coronavirus) scams
- Rise in investment scams during COVID-19 pandemic
- Amazon Impersonation Scam
- Fake Farming Machinery Websites warning
- Widespread reports of COVID-19 malicious scams being sent to Australians
- Romance scammers move to new apps, costing Aussies more than $28.6 million
Protecting Yourself Online
- Be wary of potential scam calls, emails or SMS messages related to the COVID-19 virus, don’t click on any links or respond to calls unless you have independently confirmed the information received.
- Be aware that scammers are cold calling clients pretending to be from Internet and Telephone Service Providers seeking remote access to computers, always independently confirm any calls received.
- Don’t share your Login ID, Password, Token Codes or PINs with anyone.
- Check your account details on a regular basis. If you notice any unexpected activity on either your account or computer, contact us immediately on the number listed below.
- Be aware that scammers are cold calling clients offering high return fraudulent investments, independently check any investment offers received with a registered financial advisor.
- Don’t trust unusual phone calls, emails or SMS messages from people or companies that you were not expecting, always independently confirm any calls or messages received.
- Be aware of identity fraud, only share your personal information with people & companies you know and trust.
- If you receive invoices by email, be aware of potential email compromise and independently confirm that the account details received are correct prior to payment.
- Be vigilant when opening emails which contain links or attachments, even from trusted sources. Spam emails may infect your computer with malware or ransomware.
- Rabobank will never send you emails asking to verify your details, nor will we ask you to open any attachments. If you are unsure of anything you receive, please contact us on the number below.
- Make sure you are using the latest version of your internet browser. Information on updating internet browsers can be found in the Security FAQ section of the website under "How can I update my internet browser?".
Details regarding a wide range of Cybercrime Scams can be found on the ACCC Scamwatch website. Listed below is information regarding some of the more common Cybercrime Scams that are being reported by our clients.
Fraudsters are compromising the email accounts held by purchasers or their suppliers and are then sending fraudulent emails to purchasers advising that their supplier has updated their account information.
Often updated invoices are then sent to purchasers by the fraudsters, detailing the updated payment instructions.
Sometimes purchasers may receive an invoice from their supplier, that was intercepted and fraudulently updated without their knowledge prior to receipt.
Another version of this scam occurs when a senior person within a company, receives an email from another senior person, requesting that an urgent confidential payment be arranged via domestic or overseas Wire Transfer.
Investigations then reveal that the instruction originated from a compromised or slightly different email address. Funds are often transferred to Hong Kong.
As email is not a secure communications protocol, it is very important that any new or updated payment instructions received via email are independently confirmed by phone, on a confirmed number.
For more information regarding this scam, see the following links from the Scamwatch site - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/news/invoice-email-scam-now-targeting-australian-businesses and Scamnet site - https://www.scamnet.wa.gov.au/scamnet/Scam_types-Attempts_to_gain_your_personal_information-Phishing-Fake_CEO_scam.htm
Fraudsters are contacting victims pretending to be from Telstra, the NBN or Microsoft, advising that their computers have been compromised with viruses or Trojans and need to be cleansed.
The victims may also be advised that their internet speed is slow and they need a new modem. The victims are then instructed to download and install a remote access program, which provides the fraudsters with access to their computers.
The fraudsters then usually instruct victims to login to various websites including Internet Banking. Once this has occurred, the fraudsters may then conduct Internet Banking transfers to third party accounts without the victims knowledge. During the call, the victim is instructed to provide their PIN and Token Code as part of the cleansing process. There are also other variations to this scam.
- If you receive a call that you were not expecting, just hang up and call back on a listed number for that company.
- Never provide a third party with Remote Access to your computer while you are logged into Online Banking.
- Never provide your PIN or Token Code information to a third party.
- Never enter your PIN or Token Code into the Rabobank Internet Banking site, unless you are conducting Banking services.
For more information regarding this scam, see the following link from the Scamwatch site - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/attempts-to-gain-your-personal-information/remote-access-scams
Fraudsters are approaching victims, by phone, SMS, email, or scam website, advising them of highly attractive investment opportunities. Once contact is made, high pressure sales techniques are used, the scammers may even pay high returns on small initial investments in order to entice larger investments. Victims are directed to professional looking websites and are often provided with login access to see their (scam) investments.
Be wary of investment opportunities that seem too good to be true. Always conduct independent research into any investment offers received.
Consider seeking the services of a registered Financial Advisor - https://asic.gov.au/for-finance-professionals/afs-licensees/financial-advisers-register/
Check that the investment provider holds an Australian Financial Services Authorised Representative Licence - https://search-afsl.com/
For more information regarding this scam, see the following link from the Scamwatch site - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/investments/investment-scams
The gradual move from in-store to online shopping, has resulted in scammers setting up fake online-stores offering non-existent or fake goods. Some scammers are also offering goods at reduced prices via social media websites, but when the goods arrive, they are found to be of inferior quality.
- Be wary of unknown websites selling goods at unrealistic prices.
- Always check that sites are secure “https”.
- Conducting research into the website offering goods online, will often reveal when it was established. Scam websites are often recently established.
- Be wary of websites demanding payment via wire transfer, money order, or direct credit to third party accounts.
- This link provides an example of websites offering goods for sale that don’t exist - https://www.scamnet.wa.gov.au/scamnet/Scam_types-Buying_or_selling-Online_shopping_scams-Fake_farming_machinery_websites.htm.
For more information regarding this scam, see the following link from the Scamwatch site - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/buying-or-selling/online-shopping-scams
Romance scammers are lurking on online dating websites looking for unsuspecting victims. Initial contact is also sometimes made via email, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger, etc.
Once contact is made, these scammers are very good at gaining the trust of vulnerable victims. They will often promise to fly to Australia in order to start a new life with the victims.
These scammers will often send images of themselves, but these images are often stolen from various websites on the internet.
Usually within two to five months of contact and false promises, the scammer will start to ask for money. Some of the more common stories used by Romance Scammers are detailed below.
- The scammer is in the military, is currently working overseas and needs money for living expenses, to secure his release, or to pay for projects etc.
- The scammer is overseas and is involved in an antiques, gold, art or gemstones business and needs money to get the goods out of the country.
- The scammer requests money for airfares to enable a meeting with the victim.
- The scammer is currently overseas finalizing their late parent’s estate and requires funds to assist with funeral expenses or other costs.
- The scammer is an Engineer working on an oilrig overseas.
- The scammer is trapped in an airport with a bag full of cash, gemstones, gold etc. and needs to pay a fine before the goods can be released.
- The scammer may promise to fly to meet the victim but is then involved in an accident on the way to the airport and requests financial assistance to pay for medical expenses.
- The scammer may sometimes claim that they are originally from the same country as the victim and will normally promise to repay any money sent.
- Don’t send money to unconfirmed people that you meet online.
- Don’t offer to receive funds from people you meet online, these funds are often stolen.
- A google image search may assist in determining whether images received have been stolen.
For more information on this scam see this link from the Government Scamwatch page - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/dating-romance
Scammers are sending emails, SMS messages, social media messages, or letters to people, advising that they have won a lottery, sweepstake, prize or award etc. that they never entered, or had any knowledge of.
Victims are usually advised that in order to collect their winnings, they will be required to make an up-front payments for various reasons, including taxes, stamp duty, insurance costs, courier charges, bank fees etc.
- Be wary of messages regarding competitions or lotteries that you have not entered.
- Prize winners are not usually required to pay fees or taxes in order to receive their prize.
- Always independently confirm unexpected messages from people that you know, because social media or email accounts are sometime compromised or spoofed.
- Conducting your own internet research will often highlight common lottery and other prize related scams.
For more information on this scam see this link from the Government Scamwatch page - https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/unexpected-winnings/unexpected-prize-lottery-scams
Security FAQs
Yes, it is strongly recommended your computer has anti-virus software and a firewall installed, as this provides a layered approach that offers the best online protection.
Using an outdated browser may compromise your data security. We recommend you regularly update your browser to the latest version.
To help you upgrade more easily, below are links to the most commonly used browsers where you can upgrade your software.
If you would like further information please contact Client Services on 1800 025 484
Always check for the padlock symbol in the address bar when you access internet banking, this confirms that you are using a secure site.
Avoid using free wifi or public computers to access internet banking, as they do not provide a secure internet environment. Try to stick to computers you own or control in order to protect your internet security.
Rabobank's Online Savings Mobile Banking app for Australia is available on the Apple App store for Apple devices and Google play store for Android devices. Simply search for the latest version by typing in "Rabobank Online Savings Mobile Banking AU" and follow the download prompts.
You can also watch this short, helpful video on how to download and set up the Rabobank Online Savings Mobile App:
Contact us
In case you suspect fraudulent payments and / or suspicious activities on your account, you should contact us immediately either by email or phone.
Phone
1800 025 484
Overseas Phone
+61 2 8268 4511