In recent reports, scammers have been trying to get a hold of bank detail information of consumers using Westpac through various texts, saying that their accounts have been frozen and won't be reopened until they give out all bank details.
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The scammers once again played the "COVID-19" card
Scammers have now been spamming and sending text messages to Westpac consumers claiming that all accounts will be frozen until they hand out their bank account details by clicking a certain link.
These scammers were reported to be using the ongoing pandemic, novel coronavirus, as bait to prey on Australians using messages with the title "Important Message from Westpac."
The text message reads, "For the safety of our customers due to the recent COVID-19 virus, all customers are required to review and update their personal details, You will be unable to use Westpac services until you have done so."
The ACCC is fully aware of the situation at hand
A spokeswoman in Westpac told Daily Mail Australia that they have now opted to add this scam to their security website, saying that they are aware of this scam and have already created a scam alert on their Westpac Security Center as well as some information about other scams that are related to this and how customers can actually protect themselves.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or the ACCC is aware of this situation and has also said that this particular scam was among various other COVID-19 related phishing text campaigns, framing large private companies worldwide.
They have also stated that these fraudsters or scammers will contact every individual, pretending to come from a legit business such as banks, internet providers, and phone services and will ask you to confirm or give out personal and private details.
Phishing scams are tricks to get consumers to provide bank account details or any other personal information, from passwords to credit card numbers.
These phishing messages usually copy formats that are used by legit business and are solely designed to look pretty much real and genuine, including logo and branding.
Links are often provided as well for consumers to click on and will take you them to fake websites that look real, just with a slightly different kind of address.
Australian citizens have been urged to avoid clicking on these links at all costs or even try to open attachments within emails that look like they came from a bank. The ACCC also said that copycat fraud can be shown whenever doing an internet search of the message. Doing this can help check any kind of references to scams and can be identified this way.
Though, this is not the first time that scams like this involving the COVID-19 pandemic ha been used to prey against consumers.
According to Tech Times, there was a similar breach in emails that were also coronavirus-themed. This time, they used the email address of the World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
