Spot Common Scams

Protecting yourself from scams

Stay vigilant against scammers who employ various tactics to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Some scams are obvious, while others are deceptively subtle, catching you off guard. Always remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, exercise caution. Be aware of these common types of scams.

Attempts to gain your personal information

Scammers use all kinds of sneaky approaches to steal your personal details. Once obtained, they can use your identity to commit fraudulent activities such as using your credit card or opening a bank account. To find more details click here.

Dating & romance

Scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners, often via dating websites, apps or social media by pretending to be prospective companions. They play on emotional triggers to get you to provide money, gifts or personal details. To find more details click here.

Buying or selling

Scammers prey on consumers and businesses that are buying or selling products and services. Not every transaction is legitimate. To find more details click here.

Fake charities

Scammers impersonate genuine charities and ask for donations or contact you claiming to collect money after natural disasters or major events. To find more details click here.

Investments

If you are looking for a fast way to make money, watch out – scammers have invented all sorts of fake money-making opportunities to prey on your enthusiasm and get hold of your cash. To find more details click here.

Jobs & employment

Jobs and employment scams trick you into handing over your money by offering you a ‘guaranteed’ way to make fast money or a high-paying job for little effort. To find more details click here.

Threats & extortion

Scammers will use any means possible to steal your identity or your money – including threatening your life or 'hijacking' your computer. To find more details click here.

Unexpected money

Scammers invent convincing and seemingly legitimate reasons to give you false hope about offers of money. There are no get-rich-quick schemes, so always think twice before handing over your details or dollars. To find more details click here.

Unexpected winnings

Don't be lured by a surprise win. These scams try to trick you into giving money upfront or your personal information in order to receive a prize from a lottery or competition that you never entered. To find more details click here.

Cryptocurrencies & initial coin offerings (ICOs)

Cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICOs) have emerged over the last 10 years as investments and become a popular way for scammers to trick people into sending money. Most crypto scams can appear as emails trying to blackmail someone, online chain referral schemes, or bogus investment and business opportunities. To find out more, click here.

What you can do

If you believe you have become a victim of a scam, you may still be able to stop scammers in their tracks. Here's what you can do:

• If you provided your internet banking password, change it immediately via Internet Banking and contact us immediately.
• If you shared your card details, you'll need a new card. Lock your old card and/or request a new one via Internet Banking or the Unity Bank app or give us a call.
• If you've clicked a link or opened an attachment from the scam or hoax message or if you were accessing Internet Banking at the same time you received and acted on the suspicious message, close your browser, empty your browser cache and clear your browser history. Then perform a virus scan on your computer using anti-virus software. If you’re on a mobile device, make sure you have updated your operating system, are running the latest version of the Unity Bank app and run an anti-virus scan if one is available on your device.

If you're worried or you’ve noticed a suspicious transaction, call us immediately on 1300 36 2000.