ANZ is alerting its customers to stay vigilant against remote access scams, following Scamwatch’s report of more than 8,000 incidents in 2023, which led to financial losses of more than $15 million.
In these scams, perpetrators contact victims under the guise of reputable organisations, such as a telco, bank, police, or software provider, seeking to gain remote control over devices under false pretenses.
ANZ emphasised the importance of recognising scam attempts, with Ruth Talalla, the bank’s scams portfolio lead, stressing the sophistication of these scams.
Scammers play on human emotions and use them to their advantage,” Talalla said. “They know a lot of people don’t understand the ins and outs of their technology, and so they use this to exploit the fear that their security, or finances, are in danger.”
ANZ outlined key indicators of a remote access scam:
“It’s important to be sceptical of any unsolicited contact, particularly if it is accompanied by a request to download an app, gain remote access to your device or ask for your banking details,” Talalla said. “If ever you’re unsure, cease the conversation, hang up the phone and instead contact the organisation through a legitimate channel found through their website.”
ANZ has rolled out several initiatives to combat scams. Victims of scams are urged to contact ANZ immediately on 13 33 50 or visit http://www.anz.com.au/security/report-fraud/ for support and to visit the ANZ website for more information on scam prevention.
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