NAB bank announces changes to the way they contact customers: this means this for you
- NAB removes links in text messages
- It is an effort to combat scams and fraud
NAB will stop sending links in text messages to customers as part of a plan to crack down on rampant scams and fraud.
Last year, the major bank sent 112 million text messages to customers, many of them with links to inform them about things like when a bill is almost overdrawn or a new debit card has been posted.
From now on, links in text messages will be replaced by advice that directs customers to the bank’s website, to call the bank or to log in to Internet Banking or the NAB App.
It’s the bank’s latest move to combat criminal activity, with more than 60 projects reportedly completed or in progress to address the impact of widespread scams and fraud.
NAB has advised that in some circumstances customers may still receive a link – such as domestic violence or hardship assistance for a vulnerable customer – “where other communication channels may not be possible or appropriate.”
NAB has announced it will stop using links in unexpected texts to customers in an effort to crack down on scams and fraud
NAB CEO Ross McEwan said the bank was 95 percent done removing the use of links in text messages and aimed to complete the initiative by the end of this month.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for customers to know if a message from NAB is legitimate,” said Mr McEwan.
‘My advice is: don’t click on a link. If you get an unexpected text message that looks like it’s from NAB and contains a link, don’t click on it.”
McEwen said many scammers “are part of transnational, organized crime gangs and will always be looking for new ways to scam people.”
“That’s why we continue to encourage all Australians to stay alert, curious and educated.”
In 2022, 47 per cent of Australians reported being exposed to text messaging scams
NAB urges the public to contact their bank and Scamwatch immediately if they suspect they have fallen prey to a scam.
Two-thirds of Australians aged 15 and over were exposed to scams in 2021-2022, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, up from 55 per cent in the previous year.
People were most often exposed to scams over the phone (48 percent) or via text message, with exposure via text message doubling from 23 percent in 2020-21 to 47 percent in 2021-22.