Alerts

Find out about our latest scam alerts and what to do if you've received a suspicious SMS.

Tax scams

June 2024

Tax time scams are generally impersonation scams that happen around the end of the financial year. People are primed to receive communications from the ATO, MyGov and their accountants, and are expecting to be notified of lodgements and potential refunds.

Scammers will impersonate the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) by contacting you via phone, email, SMS text message, or even social media. In these communications, they will try to access your personal information like your MyGov login credentials or bank card details.

How to spot a tax time scam

The most common red flag for tax time scams is any contact claiming to be from the ATO. You may receive calls, texts, emails or messages asking you to click a link to claim your tax refund, or threatening you to make payments or transfers quickly.

Here’s what to look out for:

Any messages or emails claiming to be from the ATO that contain a link;
Inbound calls claiming to be from the ATO that are threatening, demanding, or that involve a prerecorded message;
Any unusual activity in your MyGov account;
Social media messages from ATO officials;
Any request for your bank card details.

Remember:

Staying safe from tax time scams is all about being vigilant and knowing what to look out for. Remind yourself to stop, think, and protect.

Bank impersonation scams

May 2024

Scammers are using technology to trick their victims by making the call appear to come from one of the Bank’s legitimate phone numbers of +613 5485 7872 or +613 5485 7123, or by sending a text that appears in the same conversation thread as genuine bank messages.

Communications often have a sense of urgency to them, such as fraudulent activity raising red flags, or a frozen account.

Remember:

We will never ask you to move your funds to a ‘safe account’;
Never provide your 6-digit Internet Banking security code to anyone - in person, over the phone or online even if they claim to work for your bank and have personal information about you'
Never provide a caller with remote access to your computer;
We will never ask you for your Internet Banking PIN, Internet Banking password or 6-digit Internet Banking security code;
We will never ask you to login to Internet Banking via a link sent in an SMS or sent in an email;
We may call from time to time and ask to verify your identity by asking for your verbal password. However, we will never ask you for any PIN, password or security code relating to your Internet Banking. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always verify our branch contact details on our website and call us back.
If you ever feel uncomfortable, or not sure about a call, please hang up and call us on 1300 236 344.

Learn more about how to spot a scam.

Bendigo Bank branded phishing emails

April 2024

The Bank is currently aware of scammers targeting Bendigo Bank customers via email. The phishing emails include Bendigo Bank images and branding asking recipients to open an attached .HTML file to view important changes or to electronically sign a document. HTML attachments must be viewed with extreme caution and never open these without first checking the email is valid.

Do not click the link in these emails.

Remember:

We will never ask you to login to Internet Banking via a link sent in an email;
Never click on a link if you feel uncomfortable, or are not sure about an email.

If you have received a suspicious email you can forward it to phishing@bendigoadelaide.com.au for investigation.