How to choose a secure password.
We use passwords to access our bank, email and social media accounts, so it’s important to spend some time ensuring they are safe and secure. To help protect yourself, Beyond Bank recommends using a secure password that is only used for Internet Banking and is completely different from your other online activities. Using longer and more complex passwords make it harder for criminals to ‘crack’ or guess your password.
How to keep your password safe:
- Don’t share your passwords
- Store your password safely – don’t write them down. Consider using a password management tool.
- Make your password unique – don’t use the same password across multiple accounts
- Change your password regularly
- Don’t type the password on computers you don’t control.
What can I do today:
Beyond Bank highly recommends that customers with less secure passwords for Internet Banking update to a secure password.
You can do this in Internet Banking > Settings > Change Password.
Passwords and security FAQs.
We're tightening up our online security to increase protection of your accounts. Ensuring that you are are using complex passwords assists in preventing digital fraud.
A weak password is highly susceptible to a number of cyber attacks, however, the most common is brute-force attacks. This is when a hacker uses software to attempt hundreds of thousands of possible passwords until they stumble upon the right one. To help prevent this, we now require that all of our customers choose a complex password to protect your online banking.
- Minimum of 8 characters in length
- Maximum of 16 characters in length
- Must contain letters and numbers
- You may use a combination of lower and upper case letters, numbers and symbols
- Do not include the following characters and/or spaces: < > /
Unfortunately, we are unable to determine if your current password fits the new requirements.
The reason for this is that when your password is saved, it is encrypted and kept in a secure location. We never attempt to decrypt or view customer passwords under any circumstances. Therefore, to ensure all of our customer's passwords meet these new requirements, we must ask that you change your current password.
- Scams to gain your personal information – scammers will try anything to get hold of your personal details in a bid to make a fraudulent purchase or open a bank account in your name. Be particularly aware of ‘phishing’ scams which according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), is the most common scam type in Australia.1 Phishing scams are attempts by scammers to trick you into handing over highly sensitive information such as bank account details, passwords and credit card numbers. They may do this in a number of ways, including asking you to ‘re-activate your account’ or pay for an outstanding bill that doesn’t exist.
Other ways scammers might obtain your personal information is by hacking into your computer or mobile phone, or tricking you into installing software that allows the scammer to access your files and monitor your movements online. - Dating and romance scams – dating and romance scammers create fake profiles on dating websites, apps or social media platforms using fake photos and identities. In this scenario, scammers typically try to enter into a relationship with you, pull at your heart strings before eventually asking you for money for something like medical bills, travel costs or a family crisis. These scammers are often overseas, pretending to work in the military or as an engineer for example.
- Online shopping scams – with more Aussies shopping online for goods and services, scammers have more opportunities to pose as genuine buyers and sellers on online shopping sites, online auctions and classified sites which are also becoming particularly common. According to Scamwatch, social media platforms have given rise to a new version of online shopping scams, where scammers use social platforms such as Facebook to set up online stores and attract buyers. These fake stores typically offer fake branded luxury clothing or jewellery at low prices, and then disappear once they’ve sufficiently profited from unsuspecting customers.
- Phone scams – phone scams are designed to trick you into thinking you’re communicating with someone from a well-known organisation, such as the Australian Tax Office (ATO) or Telstra. The end goal is to get hold of your personal information or payment details.
Phone scammers often call to chase up ‘outstanding bills’ or they may even imitate someone from the ‘support desk’ in an attempt to get remote access to your computer. Technical support scams typically start with a caller claiming that your computer is infected with a virus, or there is a problem with your internet connection. Often, these scammers will use technical jargon to appear legitimate and intimidate you into following their instructions.
These scam types are just some of the scams you could come across online. Below are others to look out for:
- Unexpected money scams
- Prize and lottery scams
- Identity theft
- Job and employment scams
- Charity and medical scams
- Business scams.
For more information about how to protect yourself from scammers, you can download the ACCC’s “The little black book of scams” or visit www.scamwatch.gov.au to read up on the latest scam news and alerts.
Whilst every scammer might operate a little differently, there are a few warning signs to look out for whenever you’re doing anything online:
- Scammers tend to approach you, and they will often use some sort of convincing story about why they are contacting you. They may contact you regularly and use high pressure sales tactics, computer or tax problems or use urgency to convince you to take their bait.
- Scammers can play with your emotions, enlisting the thrill of a potential win, possibility of love, or fear of falling into arrears to trick you into taking action. They know just the right strings to pull.
- Scammers often use professional and official-looking websites and shopping sites to convince you they are legitimate. They are also extremely savvy at faking the logo and branding of larger companies such as the ATO, Australia Post or PayPal. When you receive an email you’re not expecting, always question whether it’s real or fake.
- Scammers may contact your mobile phone carrier and ‘port out’ your phone to a different carrier or SIM card. By doing this, they can take control of your mobile number and have security messages sent to your phone in an attempt to hijack your accounts. If your mobile phone stops working, or you receive advice from your provider that your number is being ported, this is a big warning sign.
- Scammers typically ask for money, whether immediately or after months of grooming. For payment, scammers may direct you to their nearest post office, a wire transfer service or any number of other payment methods, including direct bank transfers, pre-loaded debit cards, gift cards or virtual currency such as Bitcoin. A request for payment via an unusual method is often a sign of a scam.
- Scammers will often get your details incorrect. Be extremely cautious when you receive an email with your name misspelt.
For more information about what to look for in scams, you can download the ACCC’s “The little black book of scams” or visit www.scamwatch.gov.au to read up on the latest scam news and alerts.
Whilst there is no silver bullet, there are certainly steps you can take to protect yourself online. Below are some tips:
- Stay alert and remember that scams exist. Whenever you’re dealing with someone who has approached you online, always consider that it could be a scam. If in doubt, do some online research to find out more about them or the business they represent
- Never send money or give your personal details to someone you have only met online, or don’t completely trust
- Don’t accept contact requests on social media from people you don’t know and be careful how much personal information you share online. Scammers may use your personal information and photos to steal your identity or gather information about you, so their approach seems more familiar or genuine
- Do not open suspicious texts, pop-up windows or emails. Be especially cautious when the sender has misspelt your name, asks for your banking details or promises you money. If it’s a company you already deal with, look up their contact information online and call them to check whether the message you received was legitimate
- Be vigilant when shopping online. Always use shopping sites you know and trust. Be extremely wary of offers that seem ‘too good to be true’, because they probably are, and it’s safer to stay away
Protect your personal information. Shred utility bills or other documents that contain your personal details or pin numbers before throwing them away - Choose strong passwords for your computers, mobile devices, and every online account. Get tips on setting a secure Internet Banking password here.
If you believe your personal details or banking information has been compromised, change your password and contact us immediately on 13 25 85.
To change your Internet Banking password, log in to Internet Banking and select > Settings > Change Password.
Reporting a scam.
If you have come across what you believe to be a scam, you can help others by reporting the scam to your local police, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission via Scamwatch. Visit www.scamwatch.gov.au for more information.
Recover a stolen identity.
Beyond Bank partners with IDCARE, Australia and New Zealand's independent, not-for-profit service that reviews and shares information on cyber risks.
IDCARE will help Beyond Bank customers by providing case managers who can advise how to best protect yourself after becoming the victim of a scam or cyber event. Their expert case managers can be booked online at a time that suits, during business hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm AEST).
As Beyond Bank Australia partners with IDCARE, this service is free to our customers.
If you wish to engage with IDCARE or want to report a scam, call us on 13 25 85 and one of our consultants will be able to help you.
Getting support.
Falling victim to a scam can be emotionally distressing. If you, or someone you know needs some support, please visit a health professional you trust, or seek help from one of the many support services on offer.
