Bankwest has rolled out a new feature, Check-it, within its app to help customers protect themselves against fraud and scams.
The technology delivers in-app alerts for transactions or activities flagged as unusual, empowering users to monitor their accounts more effectively.
Check-it notifies customers about potentially suspicious activities such as unexpected ATM usage, unusual point-of-sale purchases, or first-time card and digital wallet transactions.
If customers don’t recognise a flagged transaction, they are prompted to contact the Bankwest fraud and scams team for immediate assistance.
The launch of Check-it is part of Bankwest's broader efforts to enhance digital security tools for its customers in 2024.
The feature follows the introduction of NameCheck, which verifies account details during first-time payments by cross-referencing the entered information with existing data.
Additionally, Bankwest has fortified its SMS communications by securing Alpha Tags – the identifiers for official messages – enabling telecommunications providers to block fraudulent attempts to inject fake messages into legitimate SMS threads.
Philippa Costanzo (pictured above), Bankwest’s head of payments, scams, and fraud, emphasised the bank’s proactive approach to customer protection.
“Bankwest aspires to be Australia’s favourite digital bank and we’re focused on helping customers address the growing risk of scams and fraud,: Constanzo said. “Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and Check-it aims to empower customers to check potentially suspicious transactions or activity we alert them to and then identify those they don’t recognise.”
Costanzo said that while digital tools like Check-it are critical, staying vigilant is key.
“Bankwest will continue to invest in digital services that help customers better protect themselves from scams, but the best defence is always for customers to stay vigilant and informed of threats and act quickly to report scams,” Costanzo said.
Get the hottest and freshest mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter.
