Keep your super safe

Speaking to someone but you’re not sure who it is?

What you should do

Ignore the call, let it go to voicemail or hang up. Call the organisation directly using contact details on their official website or app

Why this will help

You’ll have more time to figure out who’s calling and if they’re genuine.

Does it ask you to make a payment or update your details?

What you should do

Never click on links, provide personal details or make payments without checking they’re genuine.

Why this will help

It’s safer to be cautious and contact an organisation directly.

What you should do

Speak to your children (and/or your parents) about the importance of keeping personal information safe.

Why this will help

Scammers have targeted children online, leading them to share financial information about family members.

Do you know what’s coming out of your account?

What you should do

Check your bank and super statements regularly. Speak to your service provider if you see unfamiliar transactions or payments to unknown people.

Why this will help

It’s best to act quickly if there’s an issue.

Scammers can target you online, by phone or email. Some of the ways you can protect your identity include:

• Not giving your personal details to people you don't know or trust
• Not giving copies of your identification document for an unknown purpose
• Securing your mail and destroying unnecessary personal information before throwing it away
• Check that your contact details on your super account are correct
• Check your bank and super statements regularly for unusual transactions and review your credit report to ensure your name is not being used by someone else to borrow money or run up debts
• In respect to your personal electronic devices (i.e phone, iPad, laptops/computers) and accounts:
  • Regularly update passwords and create strong and unique passwords that only you know
  • Install anti-virus and security software, or if already installed, complete a full device scan
  • Clear all browsing history including all cookies.

Visit Moneysmart for more information on how to protect yourself against financial scammers.

1. Contact your financial institutions immediately to freeze your accounts and credit cards (example superannuation fund, bank, the ATO for SMSF scams)
2. Lodge a Police Report immediately
3. Lodge a report with IDCARE
4. You can also report the scam at Scamwatch and at the Australian Cyber Security Centre

If someone offers to withdraw your super or move it to a self-managed super fund (SMSF), it could be a scam. The superannuation industry and the regulator, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) have noticed a rise in scams targeting individuals into establishing self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs).

Watch out for emails or calls requesting your personal or account details. Scammers may pretend to be a company you know, like your super fund or a financial advisor firm. They may then use your personal identification documentation and information to transfer your super into an account they can access, like a fake SMSF or set up a legitimate SMSF, but transfer the money into a bank account controlled by them.

We have noted that our members are being cold called by seemingly ‘legitimate’ financial advisers. Some members have a long interaction with these scammers and SMSFs are properly established with the SMSF regulator (the Australian Taxation Office). Once the superannuation funds are transferred into the SMSF bank account, the ‘financial advisers’ withdraw the funds and are unreachable. Some of the websites created by these scammers appear to be genuine. Check the ASIC website to ensure the financial advisor is listed on the Financial Advisers Register.

In some scams, the application forms received by funds are not the forms completed by the members. Other instances involve the money being transferred to a ‘different’ bank account opened by the scammer (with or without the knowledge of the individual). These secondary bank accounts (which are controlled by the scammers) are easy to establish since scammers now have the relevant identification documents provided by the members to help set up the SMSF.

Scammers will try to convince you that they can help you to get your super early. Knowing when you can legally get your super protects you from these kinds of scams. You can contact Cbus’ Financial Advice team for information about your Media Super account. Ensure Media Super has your correct mobile number, email and postal address. This will help us contact you if there's any suspicious activity on your account. Regularly check your super balance by logging into your account. If something doesn't look right, Contact us immediately. It may be difficult to recover funds lost in a scam as time passes.

The superannuation industry and its members is also targeted by scammers in a different way. When it seems too good to be true, contact us to have a chat about your account.

Visit the following links for more information

• www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/crime-types/fraud/identity-crime
  
• www.idcare.org/contact/get-help
  
• www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report
  
• www.oaic.gov.au/
  

Also available

• www.esafety.gov.au/
  
• www.scamwatch.gov.au/
  
• www.australia.gov.au/
  

For more information on SMSF scams

• www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/scam-alert-self-managed-super-fund-rollover
• www.moneysmart.gov.au/how-super-works/superannuation-scams
• www.superguide.com.au/how-super-works/super-scams
• www.moneysmart.gov.au/investment-warnings/investment-scams
• www.smsfadviser.com/news/20212-smsf-scams-are-on-the-rise-here-s-how-to-fight-back